Trump wants to end ‘wokeness’ in education. He has vowed to use federal money as leverage
Donald Trump’s vision for education revolves around a single goal: to rid America’s schools of perceived “ wokeness ” and “left-wing indoctrination.”
LGBT issues
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Web Exclusive: Bar association class to examine Fox Hollow Farm murders of gay men
Organizers hope the event will help the legal system better serve and understand the LGBTQ+ community.
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Books, pronouns and trans athletes: What contentious education policy is coming next?
If the last few legislative sessions are any indication of what could be on the horizon for the Indiana General Assembly in 2024, one seemingly safe bet is that the state’s lawmakers will again take up controversial education policy.
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Halfway point: A look at key legislation in 2nd half of 2023 session
Here is an update on key legislation affecting not only lawyers, but all Hoosiers statewide. Updates are as of March 10.
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2022 in review: Top stories
To wrap up 2022, here’s a look back at the biggest stories of the year, as voted on by IL staff.
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Articles
Liberty University sued by former IT staffer fired after disclosing she’s a transgender woman
The lawsuit on behalf of Ellenor Zinski was filed by the American Civil Liberties Union of Virginia and the Richmond law firm of Butler Curwood.
Supreme Court taking the bench with ghost guns, a capital case and transgender rights on the docket
The Supreme Court is taking the bench again on Monday, ready to hear cases on ghost guns, a death sentence and transgender rights.
Gov. Holcomb’s ‘anti-trans’ positions criticized in Netflix’s ‘Will & Harper’ documentary
The film documents a cross-country trip Hollywood actor Will Ferrell and his close friend Harper Steele embarked on in 2023 and centers on Steele’s transition and identity as a trans woman.
Trump’s second-term agenda on LGBTQ issues alarms civil rights groups
The former president, who has shifted his position over the years on LGBTQ issues, is planning to lead the GOP charge on gender identity if he returns to the White House, according to his campaign and interviews with allies
Christian homeless shelter challenges Washington state law prohibiting anti-LGBTQ+ hiring practices
Lawyers for a Christian homeless shelter are scheduled to be in a federal appeals court Friday to challenge a Washington state anti-discrimination law that would require the charity to hire LGBTQ+ people and others who do not share its religious beliefs, including those on sexuality and marriage.
Appeals court refuses to lift order blocking rule meant to expand protections for LGBTQ+ students
A federal appeals court on Wednesday refused to lift a judge’s order temporarily blocking the Biden administration’s new Title IX rule meant to expand protections for LGBTQ+ students.
Madden & Clouse: Project helping meet legal needs for LGBTQ+ Hoosiers
Why is the Project needed? According to the 2023 UCLA School of Law Williams Institute report, around 23% of LGBTQ+ people and a staggering 35% of transgender adults were living in poverty in the United States in 2020 compared to 16% of their straight and cisgender counterparts. While these numbers are improving, the community still faces challenges.
Biden pardons potentially thousands of ex-service members convicted under now-repealed gay sex ban
President Joe Biden pardoned potentially thousands of former U.S. service members convicted of violating a now-repealed military ban on consensual gay sex, saying Wednesday that he is “righting an historic wrong” to clear the way for them to regain lost benefits.
Biden’s Title IX law expanding protections for LGBTQ+ students is dealt another setback
The Biden administration’s effort to expand protections for LGBTQ+ students hit another roadblock Monday, when a federal judge in Kentucky temporarily blocked the new Title IX rule in six additional states.
ACLU lawsuit accuses Loogootee of blocking LGBTQ+ pride festival
The lawsuit alleges the southwestern Indiana city initially approved a permit for PrideFest 2024 to take place on Sept. 4 but has since changed the application process for using city property and rescinded its approval.
IndyBar: Walk with IndyBar in the 2024 IndyPride Parade on June 8
For the first time, IndyBar will have a group officially participating in the IndyPride Parade, sponsored by Indy Pride, Inc.
Conservative states challenge federal rule on treatment of transgender students
Several Republican state attorneys general are challenging a new federal rule that bans blanket policies that bar transgender students from using certain school bathrooms, among other provisions.
Biden’s new Title IX rules protect LGBTQ+ students, but transgender sports rule still on hold
The rights of LGBTQ+ students will be protected by federal law and victims of campus sexual assault will gain new safeguards under rules finalized Friday by the Biden administration.
IndyBar: IndyBar’s NEW LGBTQ+ Group Invites All to Social at Metazoa on April 24
This inaugural social is designed to foster connection, camaraderie, and belonging within our Indianapolis legal community.
Ban on gender-affirming care for minors allowed to take effect in Indiana
A federal appeals court on Tuesday allowed Indiana’s ban on gender-affirming care to go into effect, removing a temporary injunction a judge issued last year.
Citing religious, parental rights, Hoosier couple asks SCOTUS for relief after trans child was removed
An Indiana Catholic couple is asking U.S. Supreme Court to take their case after their transgender child was taken from their home because the parents would not use the child’s preferred pronouns.
Faced with wave of hostile bills, transgender rights leaders are playing “a defense game”
With a new wave of anti-trans measures already introduced this year, the TLDEF Transgender Legal Defense and Education Fund and the National Center for Transgender Equality announced in January that they plan to merge this summer.
Senate education bills on human sexuality, cursive move to House
A bill putting school boards “in the driver’s seat” on “human sexuality” instruction faced fierce opposition on Tuesday from Democrats worried it would restrict teaching on LGBTQ+ identities.
Indiana school boards to have final say over ‘human sexuality’ lessons under GOP-backed bill
Hoosier school boards would have authority over “human sexuality” instruction under legislation moving through the Indiana Statehouse.