The Mafia You Don’t Know

Recently Indiana Equality’s Communications Co-Chair asked me why I’m so negative about the local GLBT rights advocacy group, Indiana Equality (IE). Today, I’m going to try and explain why I hold IE in such low opinion.

First off, as I’ve stated before, IE doesn’t exist as a legal entity. The typical response I’ve gotten from IE representatives is that IE is not a group, but a coalition. If IE isn’t a legal entity, how can they collect monies? How can a non-entity raise funds or hire a lobbyist? How do they report money raised to the IRS and the state of Indiana? These questions have gone unanswered since I asked them months ago.

Next door neighbors, Michigan, Ohio, Kentucky, and Illinois are filed as a c3 or a c4 (or both) non-profit organization. Hell, even extreme red states like Georgia and Utah have incorporated their equality groups. It makes one wonder why IE hasn’t incorporated.

This runs smack into one of my key issues with IE, being their lack of fiscal transparency. Indiana Equality President, Kathy Sarris, once stated that “There is an assumption that if a group is a corporation, you have to open up to the public. That is not true.” I think that attitude is pretty indicative of IE as a whole, even though IE isn’t incorporated and doesn’t have to reveal where ANY of the money raised is going to. I’ve had discussions with other members of IE and the Indy Rainbow Chamber and they’ve stated that IE will not publicly disclose detailed financials.

Some have asked why I would even question IE’s financials. It’s been suggested that I should just trust IE. History has proven that when there is no oversight, no fiscal transparency, financial mismanagement is more likely to happen. Case in point, current IE lobbyist Mark St. John was the executive director of AIDServe when it “mismanaged funds” and St. John acknowledged “robbing Peter to pay Paul.” He stated that “It just kind of happened.” Had there been more fiscal transparency/oversight, I believe this type of mismanagement could have been avoided.

IE also seems to have an aversion to using web based communication and fundraising technologies. It’s been said that IE’s “professional advisers” believe that these things don’t work. The reasoning goes something like this: Our professional advisor is professional, therefore, you’re wrong. He advises campaigns and gets paid to run them successfully. He’s researched it and kept up on the history of such methods. Problem is, that line of reasoning is complete bullshit. First off, there isn’t enough “history” or “research” to accurately analyze and predict an outcome. Most of the data has come from the Dean success, and is only a couple of years old.

Technology was used successfully by New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg in the last election. He used text messaging so that his constituents could “Text Mike.” His campaign also employed an RSS feed that sent alerts throughout the blogosphere. And really, what is the cost of implementing such technologies? What was the cost of Michigan Equality‘s “Penny’s Campaign for a Million Pennies?” A web graphic with a counter is pretty cheap these days. It’s a cute campaign that raises money in a unique way. Michigan Equality must be doing something right, considering that they have 4 full time employees.

At the heart of the issue is the attitude of the leadership of Indiana Equality. Grassroots activist Steph Mineart said “Future generations of LGBT people also need us to loop them in and empower them to use their own strategies for success” She suggested that volunteers should be telling IE what “they can contribute instead of getting them [IE] to tell you. Every one of these people is GLBT. Every one of them has the tools and the training to get the message across, to tell their personal story, built in by years of abuse from society. They don’t need training. They need to tell their own story to their friends and co-workers and families.” She summed up IE’s current approach as one that is a “a patronizing, top-down approach.”

It’s my belief that the “a patronizing, top-down approach” is one borne out of a group of people that are using their place at the table to further their own personal agendas/egos. “I wonder though, if the reluctance to try new media is driven by a desire to control the information that come out, and a desire to control the reaction of the gay community. I still think there’s a power problem, which has always been a problem in our community — there’s always been an element that wants to funnel the information so it goes through them and gets approved by them, and I think that middle man has been tripping up our community for a long time” said Mineart.

The reality of this “power problem” was apparent in the life and death of the grassroots activist group, Rock Indiana. During the $2 Dollar Bill Campaign, IE began a whisper campaign that was revealed when a local pastor contacted RI, saying

“What I have discovered is an apparent lack of cooperation from Rock Indiana’s group with all other GLBT organizations.” “Frankly, I and several church leaders were energized to promote this campaign in our Welcoming and Affirming XXX church. But we cannot do so if this campaign is not a cooperative part of the wider GLBT community. We do not wish to get caught up in factionalized fights. We wish to work with a unified LGBT voice in this state.”

When confronted with this information, the Chair of Indiana Equality refused to support the effort without RI giving up their contact database and said

“I would guess that those names/addresses could be sent to IAN and IE electronically without any delay. If that happened, I would be happy to e-mail XXXX to tell XXX that this was one matter in which I could testify that Rock Indiana had cooperated with other GLBT organizations. Can we first attend to this particular piece of business?”

Partin was willing to do so, on the condition that Indiana Equality merge their contacts with other community organizations, but IE never responded back to RI. Mineart says that she believes that IE “trashed Rock Indiana to death because they were so terrified of Pepper Partin.”

Before yesterday I might have thought those words a bit overdrawn. But IE “Family’s Count” Rally really vindicated Pepper’s role in the success of last years Rock Indiana’s “Rally at the State House.” Under Pepper’s leadership, the Rock Indiana organizers helped to bring between 800 to 1000 Hoosiers to the State House east steps on that cold winter day. After the Rally, it was suggested by members of Indiana Equality that THEY were the reason why that attendance was so large, because they had gotten the word out. I wonder if that same IE networks broadcast the “Our Family’s Count” rally? Yesterday’s rally was held inside the statehouse Rotunda and was planned exclusively by IE. The attendance at the IE Rally has been estimated at between 150 to 300 people.

But Partin isn’t the only person that’s been stung by IE’s apparent disdain for leadership that isn’t IE centered. Advance Indiana’s Gary Welsh was recently reprimanded for questioning IE publicly when they tried to take credit for State House Representative Thompson’s decision to withdraw his anti-HRO amendment.

If we are to turn the tide in this battle, we cannot continue to silence the best and brightest among us. If we are to walk into this fight with our integrity intact, we need a clear battle plan and a transparency in funding this battle. If this kind of behavior continues to happen, this battle will be lost and they’ll have only themselves to blame. Even then you might here the words, “It just kind of happened.”

An Email Sent To the Indianapolis City-County Council

Dear city-county council members,

My name is Marti Abernathey. I am a father of three beautiful children, a health care provider (a cat scan/x-ray technologist), a long time Hoosier, and a tech savvy blogger (http://digitaldogmeat.com). I am a citizen, an activist, and to many, a friend. I also happen to be a (male to female) transsexual.

Before voting for or against the Human Rights Ordinance, please consider what I have to say.

When the word “transsexual” or “transgender” are brought up, images of “The Jerry Springer Show” flash into most peoples mind. My hope is that with this e-mail you can see past this negative media stereotype (a stereotype much like blackface was used to caricature African Americans) and see me as one of you. I’ve had dinner with you and your spouse (Lincoln Plowman). I grew up with your sister and went to school (Southport class of 86) in the same school system that your mother taught in (Mike Speedy). I have provided compassionate and kind health care to you, your children, or your elderly parents. I am not a sexual deviant, a pervert, or a circus freak. I am truly one of you… a caring, loving, compassionate human being.

I’m sure you’ve heard from many supporters of Eric Miller and Micah Clark. They want to portray this ordinance as “a special right” that is part of an agenda to move government towards “homosexual marriage.” Even a cursory look into the language of the HRO will prove that accusation false. This isn’t a morality issue, but rather a civil rights issue. This has NOTHING to do with marriage. There isn’t anything “special” about this ordinance. Civil rights legislation has been put into action to level “the playing field.” President Harry Truman said that to “fashion and strengthen our American faith” civil rights legislation was needed. He added that “We believe that all men are entitled to equal opportunities for jobs, for homes, for good health and for education.”

This isn’t an issue that can be divided down partisan lines either. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 would have never been passed had it not been for Senate Republican Minority Leader Everett Dirksen. In garnering enough votes to break a long held filibuster, Senator Dirksen said that “The time has come for equality of opportunity in sharing in government, in education, and in employment. It will not be stayed or denied. It is here!”

Even today, that sentiment rings true. During the last election cycle, Mitch Daniels made it very clear that he does not support gay marriage, but he is against discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity. His campaign’s employment policy statement reflected this belief by stating that “Indiana’s future depends on the contributive talent of all who live within its boundaries. Discrimination against any person is wrong. The Mitch Daniels Campaign Committee accords equal access to employment opportunities at the campaign regardless of race, religion, skin color, sex, gender, disability, sexual orientation, or national origin.”

Many Americans concur with this assessment. According to a poll conducted by Lake, Snell, Perry & Associates Inc., 61 percent agreed “that there needs to be laws to protect transgender people from discrimination.”

Eric Miller has insinuated that if this ordinance is passed that religious institution’s will be forced to hire transsexuals and gays and lesbians. Be it from ignorance or an out and out lie, it’s untrue. First of all, many religious institutions already employ GLBT Hoosiers. Secondly, religious organizations are exempt from this ordinance. I know this because I work for a catholic health organization that will NOT fall under this ordinance. Chapter 581 states that “
The provisions of section of this chapter shall not include apply to any not-for-profit corporation or association organized exclusively for fraternal or religious purposes, nor to any school, education, charitable or religious institution owned or conducted by, or affiliated with, a church or religious institution, nor any exclusively social club, corporation or association that is not organized for profit and is not in fact open to the general public.

President Kennedy said that “The heart of the question is whether all Americans are afforded equal rights and equal opportunities, whether we are going to treat our fellow Americans as we want to be treated…” He continued onto say that “…this nation, for all its boasts, will not be fully free until all of its citizens are free.” I’m asking you to please consider my plea. I don’t want special rights, I don’t want a free ride, and I don’t want anything over and above what any other Hoosier wants. So please, on Monday April 25th, 2005 please vote for liberty, equality, and freedom. Vote yes on prop 68.

Hate In Constitution One Step Closer

Tuesday evening the Indiana House of Representatives passed Senate Joint Resolution 7 by a vote of 76 to 23. The measure was passed by the Senate earlier in the month and now must be passed by a separately elected legislature before it can be put on the ballot. The earliest the measure could make it onto the ballot is 2008.

Shortly after the vote, a small group of protesters gathered outside the State House. Marti Abernathey said “I came out because our legislators need to know that regardless of weather or the time of day, we will make our voices heard.”

Later on the protest moved to Monument Circle. Patrons of the Columbia Club seemed shocked and dismayed that their establishment was in earshot of the protest. Pepper Partin said “Many folks who obviously held government positions entered and exited while we were there. Some gave thumbs up and others looked a little like deer in headlights. I think many exiting the Columbia Club were a little startled by our presence.”

Although disappointed with the vote, protester Kevin Gaither said “There is much time; there is much hope; there is so much to be done. I only hope the GBLT community of Indiana can come together in this dark time to produce a light of hope for all the GBLT youth of Indiana. They are the ones this type of legislation damages the most. Legislated hatred and bigotry is the lowest form of politics.”