Talking about Fairness: Relationship equality in Indiana

1. Talking about Fairness: Relationship equality in Indiana Presented By: FairTalk

2. The Birth of FairTalk • House Joint Resolution 6 (HJR-6) • “Only marriage between one (1) man and one (1) woman will be valid or recognized as a marriage in Indiana. AND • A legal status identical or substantially similar to that of marriage for unmarried individuals shall not be valid or recognized.” • Spurred the formation of FairTalk in May, 2011

3. Who we are • FairTalk is a grass-roots organization • Based in Bloomington, expanding in IN • Encourage respectful conversations • Focus on 3 strategies to do this • Social networking & website (www.fair-talk.org and www.facebook.com/fairtalk ) • Trainings and workshops • Direct community engagement and education

4. Why we’re here • Our Mission: To foster discussions in diversity to promote fairness for all people regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. • Our Vision: A world in which equal rights for all are inherent. • Values:FairTalk is committed to advancing social justice for LGBTQ individuals by encouraging respectful conversations between people and within communities.

5. Ultimate goals • Defeat House Joint Resolution 6 • Then: • Overturn the existing law banning marriage • Ratify a law establishing full relationship equality • Other fairness issue facing LGBTQ Hoosiers • Do this by getting people to: • Vote “NO” on HJR-6 • Talk to their social circles to vote “NO”

6. Some Basic Education

7. Differentiating Terms • Marriage—civil and spiritual • Civil—A legal contract approved by the state • Spiritual—a ceremony performed in a religious institution • Civil Union—a legal contract recognized by the state that confers many of the same rights as marriage

8. Differentiating terms • Domestic Partnership—a legal contract recognized by the state that confers a more limited number of benefits • Domestic Partner Benefits—benefits that are given by an organization to employees with a domestic partner

9. 1100+ Rights & benefits • Medical Benefits • Death benefits • Family benefits • Housing benefits • Consumer benefits • Many Others • Tax benefits • Estate planning benefits • Employment benefits • Government benefits

10. Effects of discrimination • Legal and social barriers to equality create stigma and marginalization of the LGBT populationhealthdisparities • 6-fold increase in rates of mental health disorders • 2-3-fold increase in substance abuse • higher incidence of obesity and physical inactivity • 8-fold increase rates of attempted suicide and 3-fold increase in successful suicides • Higher incidence of HTN & cardiovascular disease • Higher incidence of bulimia or anorexia • Higher prevalence of risky sexual behavior/increased rates of STIs (Buffie, 2012a; Buffie, 2012b)

11. Situation in Indiana • Indiana Law: only a man can marry a woman, and only a woman can marry a man. • NO legal recognition of same-sex relationships. • Out of state marriages of same-sex couples not recognized

12. To pass an Indiana law One Year Process House Senate BILL LAW

13. House joint resolution 6 • Proposal to amend the Indiana State Constitution Bill of Rights to state that : • “Only marriage between one (1) man and one (1) woman will be valid or recognized as a marriage in Indiana... ”

14. House joint resolution 6 • “Only marriage between one (1) man and one (1) woman will be valid or recognized as a marriage in Indiana. AND • A legal status identical or substantially similar to that of marriage for unmarried individuals shall not be valid or recognized.”

15. To amend the Indiana Constitution Amendment Proposed House Senate NEW House NEW Senate Legislature Vote # 1 Legislature Vote # 2 Public Vote

16. If HJR6 passes • Future legislatures cannot pass • Marriage for same-sex couples • Civil unions or domestic partnerships for same-sex or opposite-sex couples • Endangers existing domestic partner benefits in organizations

17. When we defeat hjr6 • Marriage for same-sex partners is still illegal • Same-sex couples still have no legal rights • Door is open for legislature to someday pass full marriage equality law

18. The tide is turning! • More states passing relationship protections • Over 50% Americans in favor of full marriage rights for GLBT Americans • NAACP supports full marriage rights • President Barack Obama and VP Joe Biden support full marriage rights • Does Indiana want to go backwards??

19. One voice • Zach Wahls Talks About Family • Testimony before Iowa legislature on proposed constitutional amendment to ban marriage

20. Your Voice Counts too!

21. Let’s take a break 10 Minutes

22. Having the conversations Talking about fairness

23. Basic Values • RESPECTFUL • PERSONAL • Sharing of basic information • Invitation to think about the issue in a new way • Grounded in love • Positive and hopeful

24. Ideals for respectful conversations • See Handout on Ideals • Harold Heie, website http://www.respectfulconversation.net/

25. General tips for respectful conversations • Start with why it matters to YOU • Be informed and knowledgeable (but you DON’T have to be an expert) • Really listen, rather than thinking about what you want to say when it’s your turn • Ask questions about why a person holds their position or belief • Make eye contact

26. General tips • Refrain from negative body language (looking away, crossing your arms, rolling your eyes) • Don’t interrupt • Repeat what you heard the person say so they know you are really hearing them • End by asking if they will vote “NO” • Ask if they will talk to others about HJR6

27. General mindsets • Differences in: • Reasons for their opinions • Goals in talking with them • Different strategies • Supporter • Doubters • Newcomers • Unconcerneds • Traditionalists • Inflexibles

28. Supporters • Who are they? • Against HJR6 & for relationship equality. • Intend to vote against HJR6 • Not yet involved • Might not always speak up • Goal: Goal to action, beyond just voting

29. DOUBTERS • Who are they? • Against HJR-6 • Maybe in favor of marriage rights • Don’t believe we can win this battle, “so why even try?” • Goal: Build hope and motivation

30. NEWCOMERS • Who are they? • Never thought about the issue • Have not heard about HJR-6 • Uninformed about effects of relationship discrimination • Goal: Inform, help the person begin to care about relationship equality

31. Unconcerned • Who are they? • May be informed about the issue • Do not see it as important • May be gay or lesbian and against the institution of marriage or don’t want it • May be heterosexual and think this issue does not affect them • Goal: Build motivation & become active

32. Traditionalists • Who are they? • See life from a traditional perspective • Take comfort from knowing how the world is organized and what to expect • Accept “traditional” definition of marriage • May or may not be religiously based • Goal: Inform them and persuade a “no” vote

33. INFLEXIBLES • Who are they? • Adamantly opposed to relationship equality • May hold many stereotypes about gay or lesbian people • May believe that gay people can be “cured”, so why should they be able to marry  • Goal: Plant a seed, challenge a stereotype

34. Let’s take a break(Think about your Role) 10 Minutes

35. Role-plays! Let’s practice.

36. What You Can do To take Action • Vote NO on HJR-6 if it comes to a popular vote • Educate friends & family and ask them to vote NO • Contact your state legislators and tell them what you think about HJR-6. Find them at www.in.gov/legislative/2345.htm • Like “FairTalk” on Facebook and Twitter to follow events.

37. What You Can do To Take Action • Check out our website www.Fair-Talk.org • Volunteer, host a Fair Talk workshop, start a chapter, or hold a fundraiser in your community. • Watch for us (or BE us) at your local PRIDE festivals and farmer’s markets. • Listen to the bloomingOUT radio show at WFHB 91.3 (or on podcast at www.wfhb.org) for FairTalk updates and how to get involved.

38. Having conversations • There are 4,535,169 registered voters in the State of Indiana (State of Indiana, 2012) • If YOU talk to ten people a month and ask each of those people to talk to ten people, you could reach 1,320 voters by the end of the year! • Increases if each of the 120 people you talk to in a year agree to talk to 10 people PER MONTH! • EVERY conversation matters!

39. What Effect could you have, just having conversations? In ONE month… (100) (1) (10)

40. What Effect could you have, just having conversations? (120) (1) In TWELVE months… (1,320)

41. Partners in the Effort • Indiana Equality is another group working to raise awareness about HJR 6 and promote equality for all people. • For more information about their efforts and how to get involved, visit • Website: www.indianaequality.org/ • Facebook: www.facebook.com/groups/indequality

42. THANK YOU! Our Contact info: www.fair-talk.org http://www.facebook.com/#!/FairTalk Cathleen Weber cathleen@fair-talk.org 812-272-0538 Jean Capler jean@fair-talk.org 812-325-0885

43. References Buffie, W. C. (2012a). Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual/Transgender: Public health issues [PowerPoint slides]. Buffie, W. C. (2012b). LGBT health issues, Indiana, 2012 [Word document]. State of Indiana (2012). Indiana statewide voter registration system. Retrieved from https://indianavoters.in.gov/PublicSite/PublicMain.aspx?AspxAutoDetect CookieSupport=1

44. SAME LOve • Macklemore & Ryan Lewis: Same Love feat. Mary Lambert