TALKING ABOUT FAIRNESS RELATIONSHIP EQUALITY IN INDIANA Presented

TALKING ABOUT FAIRNESS: RELATIONSHIP EQUALITY IN INDIANA Presented By: Fair. Talk

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 Fair. Talk in May, 2011

WHO WE ARE Fair. Talk 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

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: inherent. A world in which equal rights for all are Values: Fair. Talk is committed to advancing social justice for LGBTQ individuals by encouraging respectful conversations between people and within communities.

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”

SOME BASIC EDUCATION

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

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

1100+ RIGHTS & BENEFITS Tax benefits Estate planning benefits Employment benefits Government benefits Medical Benefits Death benefits Family benefits Housing benefits Consumer benefits Many Others

EFFECTS OF DISCRIMINATION Legal and social barriers to equality create stigma and marginalization of the LGBT population health disparities • 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, 2012 a; Buffie, 2012 b)

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

TO PASS AN INDIANA LAW One Year Process House BILL Senate LAW

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. . . ”

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. ”

TO AMEND THE INDIANA CONSTITUTION Amendment Proposed House Senate NEW House Legislature Vote # 1 NEW Senate Legislature Vote # 2 Public Vote

IF HJR 6 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

WHEN WE DEFEAT HJR 6 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

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? ?

ONE VOICE Zach Wahls Talks About Family Testimony before Iowa legislature on proposed constitutional amendment to ban marriage

YOUR VOICE COUNTS TOO!

LET’S TAKE A BREAK 10 Minutes

HAVING THE CONVERSATIONS Talking about fairness

BASIC VALUES RESPECTFUL PERSONAL Sharing of basic information Invitation to think about the issue in a new way Grounded in love Positive and hopeful

IDEALS FOR RESPECTFUL CONVERSATIONS See Handout on Ideals § Harold Heie, website http: //www. respectfulconversation. net/

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

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 HJR 6

GENERAL MINDSETS Supporter Doubters Newcomers Unconcerneds Traditionalists Inflexibles Differences in: § Reasons for their opinions § Goals in talking with them § Different strategies

SUPPORTERS Who are they? § Against HJR 6 & for relationship equality. § Intend to vote against HJR 6 § Not yet involved § Might not always speak up Goal: Goal to action, beyond just voting

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

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

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

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

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

LET’S TAKE A BREAK (THINK ABOUT YOUR ROLE) 10 Minutes

ROLE-PLAYS! Let’s practice.

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 “Fair. Talk” on Facebook and Twitter to follow events.

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 blooming. OUT radio show at WFHB 91. 3 (or on podcast at www. wfhb. org) for Fair. Talk updates and how to get involved.

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!

WHAT EFFECT COULD YOU HAVE, JUST HAVING CONVERSATIONS? In ONE month… (100) (10)

WHAT EFFECT COULD YOU HAVE, JUST HAVING CONVERSATIONS? In TWELVE months… (120) (1, 320)

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

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

REFERENCES Buffie, W. C. (2012 a). Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual/Transgender: Public health issues [Power. Point slides]. Buffie, W. C. (2012 b). LGBT health issues, Indiana, 2012 [Word document]. State of Indiana (2012). Indiana statewide voter registration system. Retrieved from https: //indianavoters. in. gov/Public. Site/Public. Main. aspx? Aspx. Auto. Detect Cookie. Support=1

SAME LOVE Macklemore & Ryan Lewis: Same Love feat. Mary Lambert