Indiana shelves bill on requirements for ID gender change
Indiana lawmakers have shelved a bill that would have made it harder for residents to change their gender on driver’s licenses or state identification cards.
LGBT issues
Articles
Indiana House advances hate crimes bill that has mixed support
The Indiana House on Tuesday approved a hate crimes bill that is receiving mixed support from the business community, with nine Republicans joining all of the Democrats who voted against the measure.
Bill would make it harder to change gender on Indiana IDs
Indiana residents would face more hurdles changing their gender on driver’s licenses or other credentials issued by the Bureau of Motor Vehicles under changes approved by a House panel.
Justices reject B&B owner who denied room to gay couple
The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday left in place Hawaii court rulings that found a bed and breakfast owner violated the state’s anti-discrimination law by refusing to rent a room to a lesbian couple. The justices rejected an appeal from Aloha Bed & Breakfast owner Phyllis Young, who argued she should be allowed to turn away gay couples because of her religious beliefs.
Indiana offers nonbinary gender option on licenses, IDs
Indiana residents who don’t identify as male or female have the option starting this month of describing themselves as a nonbinary gender on their driver’s licenses and state identification cards.
Man loses appeal of murder conviction in slaying of openly gay veteran
A northern Indiana man convicted of beating a gay Afghanistan war veteran to death lost his appeal of his conviction and sentence Monday when the Indiana Court of Appeals found that a delay in the production of cellphone records did not prevent the man from receiving a fair trial.
High court lets military implement transgender restrictions
The Supreme Court on Tuesday allowed the Trump administration to go ahead with its plan to restrict military service by transgender people while court challenges continue. The high court split 5-4 in allowing the plan to take effect, with the court’s five conservatives greenlighting it and its four liberal members saying they would not have.
Bar passage standards, arming teachers, LGBT issues on tap for ABA midyear meeting
Proposals dealing with bar passage standards, firearms in schools, illegal immigration and LGBT discrimination are among several topics to be discussed later this month at the 2019 American Bar Association Midyear Meeting.
House Republicans reveal agenda that doesn’t include hate crimes legislation
The priorities for Indiana House Republicans this year align with Gov. Eric Holcomb’s agenda, but one significant issue did not make the list: a hate crimes bill.
Appeals court sides with Trump in transgender military case
A federal appeals court sided with the Trump administration Friday in a case about the Pentagon’s effort to restrict military service by transgender people, but the ruling won’t change who can serve or enlist at this point.
Low-key days at Supreme Court may be ending soon
The Supreme Court began its term with the tumultuous confirmation of Justice Brett Kavanaugh, followed by a studied avoidance of drama on the high court bench — especially anything that would divide the five conservatives and four liberals. But when they gather in private on Friday to consider new cases for arguments in April and into next term, the justices will confront a raft of high-profile appeals.
Lawsuit filed over gay inmate’s suicide at Noble Co. jail
A northeastern Indiana county faces a wrongful death lawsuit alleging a gay inmate killed himself in its jail after being denied mental health treatment and enduring harassment over his sexuality. Markus Middleton’s partner is suing Noble County’s sheriff, jail commander and jail staff.
Indiana ACLU sues East Allen Schools over LGBTQ club
The American Civil Liberties Union of Indiana last week aided a group of more than 30 East Allen County high school students when it filed a lawsuit against the school corporation, claiming it had imposed “undue, unequal burdens” an LGBTQ+ organization.
Second gay Roncalli counselor has plans to sue
Not long after Roncalli High School guidance counselor Shelly Fitzgerald was placed on paid administrative leave because of her same-sex marriage, a second Roncalli guidance counselor announced she had filed a discrimination complaint against the school and Archdiocese of Indianapolis and plans to sue because she, too, is in a civil union.
Bitter fight over Kavanaugh shadows a conservative court
The moment conservatives have dreamed about for decades has arrived with Brett Kavanaugh joining the Supreme Court. But with it comes the shadow of a bitter confirmation fight that is likely to hang over the court as it takes on divisive issues, especially those dealing with politics and women’s rights.
Same-sex marriage could cost Catholic school counselor job
A guidance counselor at an Indianapolis Catholic school could lose her job after administrators learned that she was married to a woman. The employee who worked for the school for 15 years and has been with her partner for 22 years says she has hired an attorney.
ABA House of Delegates urges support for transgender military services
The American Bar Association House of Delegates voted in favor of a resolution that urges the federal government to recognize that transgender persons should not be discriminated against in applying for United States Armed Forces based on gender identity.
Settlement reached in Indiana Title VII case that started judicial shift
Kimberly Hively, the adjunct math professor whose employment discrimination complaint changed Title VII law in the 7th Circuit, has settled with her former employer, Ivy Tech Community College. But the issue of whether the Civil Rights Act provision extends to sexual orientation continues to roil in other judicial districts and may yet be examined by the U.S. Supreme Court.
Evansville schools must allow transgender teen to use boys’ bathroom
A transgender Evansville teen will be permitted to use the boys’ bathroom this school year after a district court judge issued an injunction against the Evansville Vanderburgh School Corporation, finding the school district cannot require the teen to use the girls’ restroom because his birth certificate identifies him as female.
Transgender student seeks injunction in bathrooms lawsuit
A federal judge is weighing whether to grant a preliminary injunction to allow an Evansville transgender student to use male bathrooms.