LGBT rights in Indiana

LGBT rights in Indiana
Same-sex sexual intercourse legal status Legal since 1977
Gender identity/expression State does not require SRS to alter sex
Discrimination protections Sexual orientation protection in employment (per court ruling). Sexual orientation and gender identity protections in state employment
Family rights
Recognition of
relationships		 Same-sex marriage legal since 2014
Adoption Yes

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) persons in the U.S. state of Indiana face some legal challenges not experienced by non-LGBT residents. Same-sex marriage has been legal in Indiana since October 6, 2014, when the U.S. Supreme Court refused to consider an appeal in the case of Baskin v. Bogan.

A landmark April 2017 court ruling held that discrimination based on sexual orientation is prohibited under federal law. This ruling only applies to Illinois, Wisconsin and Indiana, however. Since then, it has been illegal to discrimination against someone or a group of people in the workplace solely on the basis of their sexual orientation.

Legality of same-sex sexual activity

Indiana decriminalized same-sex sexual activity in 1977.[1] The age of consent is 16, regardless of gender and sexual orientation.[2]

Recognition of same-sex relationships

Same-sex marriages are recognized and performed in Indiana under a federal court decision in October 2014.[3]

Annual attempts to adopt a constitutional amendment defining marriage as the union of a man and a woman have failed since 2004. Indiana requires that two separately elected legislatures approve an amendment for it to be put to a popular vote. The proposed amendment passed both houses of the legislature in 2005,[4] and then again in 2011.[5] On June 25, 2014, U. S. District Court Judge Young declared Indiana's same-sex marriage ban to be unconstitutional, and same-sex couples immediately began to secure marriage licenses.[6] However, the ruling was appealed. On October 6, 2014, the U.S. Supreme Court refused to hear the appeal, effectively legalizing same-sex marriage in Indiana.[7]

Domestic partnerships

Map of Indiana counties and cities that offer domestic partner benefits either county-wide or in particular cities.
  City offers domestic partner benefits
  County-wide partner benefits through domestic partnership
  County or city does not offer domestic partner benefits

There is no recognition of domestic partnerships at the state level in Indiana.

  • Bloomington

In 1997, Bloomington established domestic partnerships for unmarried city employees.[8]

  • Carmel

Carmel has established domestic partnerships for unmarried city employees.[8]

  • Indianapolis

On August 13, 2012, the Indianapolis City-County Council, in a 20-8 bipartisan vote, established domestic partnerships for all married and unmarried employees in the city and county. On August 23, 2012, Mayor Greg Ballard signed the ordinance into law which went into effect on January 1, 2013.[8][9]

Discrimination protections

Map of Indiana counties and cities that have sexual orientation and/or gender identity anti–employment discrimination ordinances
  Sexual orientation and gender identity with anti–employment discrimination ordinance
  Sexual orientation with anti–employment discrimination ordinance and gender identity solely in public employment
  Sexual orientation and gender identity solely in public employment

Governor Joe Kernan issued an executive order in 2004 protecting state employees from discrimination based on sexual orientation as well as gender identity and expression. In 2005, Governor Mitch Daniels added the terms "sexual orientation" and "gender identity" to the list of protected categories in state employment covered by the state's Equal Employment Opportunity policy.[10]

In 2013, Kim Hively filed a lawsuit against the Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana in South Bend, arguing that she was denied promotions and let go from her job because of her sexual orientation. The United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit heard oral arguments in the case in November 2016 with discussion focusing on the meaning of the word "sex" in Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, which bans workplace discrimination based on race, religion, national origin or sex. On April 4, 2017, the Court of Appeals ruled in a 8-3 vote that the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits employment discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. Ivy Tech subsequently stated they would not appeal the ruling to the Supreme Court. This ruling creates a precedent for lower courts in Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin to follow, meaning employment discrimination based on sexual orientation is now banned in these states (Illinois and Wisconsin already had laws prohibiting such discrimination).[11] Human Rights Campaign hailed the ruling, saying: "Today's ruling is a monumental victory for fairness in the workplace, and for the dignity of lesbian, gay and bisexual Americans who may live in fear of losing their job based on whom they love."[12]

The counties of Marion,[13] Monroe,[13] Tippecanoe,[14] and Vanderburgh,[15] along with the cities and towns of Anderson,[16] Bloomington,[13] Carmel,[17] Columbus,[18] Evansville,[13] Hammond,[19] Indianapolis,[13] Kokomo,[20] Lafayette,[21] Michigan City,[22] Muncie,[18] Munster,[23] New Albany,[24] South Bend,[13] Terre Haute,[18] Valparaiso,[25] West Lafayette[26] and Zionsville,[18] have statute laws prohibiting employment discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity.

Lake County,[27] Fort Wayne[28] and Whitestown[18] have laws prohibiting employment discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.

Religious objections

On March 26, 2015, Governor Mike Pence signed Indiana Senate Bill 101, also known as the Indiana "religious objections" bill, into law.[29] The law's signing was met with widespread criticism by such organizations as the NCAA, Apple CEO Tim Cook, the gamer convention Gen Con, and the Disciples of Christ. Technology company Salesforce.com said it would halt its plans to expand in the state.[30][31]

Thousands protested against the policy.[32][33]

Adoption and parenting

Indiana statutes permit single LGBT persons to adopt. The state Court of Appeals ruled in 2006 that unmarried couples, including same-sex couples, may adopt as well. Some local courts have also supported the right of a same-sex partner to adopt his or her same-sex partner's biological or adopted child.[34]

In 2005, the Indiana Court of Appeals unanimously ruled that lesbian partners who agree to conceive a child through artificial insemination are both the legal parents of any children born to them.[35]

Birth certificates

On June 30, 2016, a federal judge ruled that Indiana must allow same-sex couples to list both their names on children's birth certificates. The ruling was a result of a federal lawsuit filed by eight same-sex couples in the state, who were unable to list both parents' names on their children's birth certificates because the forms only allowed a mother and a father to be listed.[36][37] In January 2017, Attorney General Curtis Hill appealed the ruling to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit.[38]

Gender identity and expression

The 2009 edition of Indy Pride, Indiana's largest LGBT event, held annually in Indianapolis.

Transgender persons in Indiana may change their legal gender following a physician’s statement that they have had appropriate clinical treatment for gender transition and a court order changing both their name and gender marker. Sex reassignment surgery is not required.[39]

On January 12, 2017, Representative Bruce Borders introduced a bill in the Indiana House of Representatives that would have prevented transgender people from changing their legal gender on their birth certificates.[40] Freedom Indiana stated the bill denied "the very existence of transgender people, the identity they live as and the person they have always known themselves to be."[41] One day later, Representative Cindy Kirchhofer, chair of the House Public Health Committee, denied the bill a hearing, effectively killing it.[42]

Hate crime law

Indiana collects data on "bias crimes" which include sexual orientation bias since 2003, but does not criminalize them as a hate crime nor alter proposed sentencing requirements due to sexual orientation bias.[43][44] Gender identity is not included in the hate crime statutes as well. Such hate crimes, however, are banned federally under the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act.

Summary table

Same-sex sexual activity legal (Since 1977)
Equal age of consent
Anti-discrimination laws in employment / (Since 2017, sexual orientation only)
Anti-discrimination laws in the provision of goods and services (Varies by city and county)
Anti-discrimination laws in all other areas (incl. indirect discrimination, hate speech) (Varies by city and county)
Same-sex marriages (Since 2014)
Stepchild adoption by same-sex couples (Since 2006)
Joint adoption by same-sex couples (Since 2006)
Gays, lesbians and bisexuals allowed to serve openly in the military (Since 2011)
Right to change legal gender
Access to IVF for lesbians (Since 2005)
Commercial surrogacy for gay male couples
Hate crime data collection for sexual orientation bias (Since 2003)
Hate crime data collection for gender identity bias
Hate crime specialized sentencing guidelines for sexual orientation bias
Hate crime specialized sentencing guidelines for gender identity bias

See also

LGBT rights in the United States

References

  1. ↑ Indiana Sodomy Law
  2. ↑ Indiana Statutory Rape Laws
  3. ↑ "Supreme Court rejects gay marriage appeals from Indiana". WTHR 13 Indianapolis. Retrieved October 6, 2014.
  4. ↑ "Indiana State Senate to take action on marriage amendment", January 15, 2010, accessed April 9, 2011; WISHtv: Jim Shella, "Gay marriage ban goes to Indiana House once again", January 28, 2010, accessed April 9, 2011
  5. ↑ Allen, Kevin (March 29, 2011). "Indiana Senate OKs amendment to ban gay marriages". WSBT. Retrieved August 20, 2013.
  6. ↑ Young, Richard L. (June 25, 2014). "Entry on Cross-Motions for Summary Judgment ... three cases, Baskin v. Bogan, Fujii v. Pence, and Lee v. Pence". U.S.D.C. S.D. Ind. Retrieved June 25, 2014.
  7. ↑ Supreme Court Delivers Tacit Win to Gay Marriage
  8. 1 2 3 "Indy passes benefits for domestic partners". IDS. Archived from the original on December 12, 2013. Retrieved December 10, 2013.
  9. ↑ "Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard OKs domestic partner benefits". Indy Star. Retrieved February 21, 2014.
  10. ↑ Patterson, James (August 5, 2005). "'Sexual orientation' policy remains sore spot for Ind. governor". Baptist Press. Retrieved April 9, 2011.
  11. ↑ Briscoe, Tony (April 4, 2017). "Court: Civil Rights Act covers LGBT workplace bias". Chicago Tribune.
  12. ↑ Ruling Affirms Civil Rights Laws Protect Employees from Discrimination Based on Sexual Orientation Human Rights Campaign
  13. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Cities and Counties with Non-Discrimination Ordinances that Include Gender Identity". Human Rights Campaign. Retrieved May 25, 2013.
  14. ↑ Tippecanoe County Commissioners add gender identity to ordinance
  15. ↑ Vanderburgh County expands sexual orientation protections
  16. ↑ Anderson joins Indiana cities protecting LGBT rights
  17. ↑ Carmel narrowly passes LGBT protections
  18. 1 2 3 4 5 How local LGBT anti-discrimination laws vary in Indiana
  19. ↑ Hammond Passes Non-discrimination Ordinance Protecting LGBT Hoosiers
  20. ↑ Runevitch, Jennie. "Kokomo mayor signs LGBT protections ordinance, 5-4". www.wthr.com. Retrieved 2016-04-09.
  21. ↑ Ervin, Jeremy (September 7, 2016). "Lafayette adds gender identity protection". Journal and Courier.
  22. ↑ "Michigan City, Indiana - Code of Ordinances". Municipal Code Corporation. Retrieved November 10, 2016. Chapter 66: Human Relations
  23. ↑ Munster's human rights ordinance adopted
  24. ↑ Schneider, Grace (August 22, 2012). "New Albany anti-discrimination law draws raves from Kentucky". The Courier-Journal. Retrieved January 3, 2013. New Albany's new law bans discrimination in employment, education, housing and public accommodations based on an individual's actual or perceived [...] sexual orientation, gender identity
  25. ↑ Valparaiso Approves LGBT Non-Discrimination Ordinance
  26. ↑ "West Lafayette Human Relations Commission" (PDF). City of West Lafayette. Retrieved April 13, 2012.
  27. ↑ LAKE COUNTY, INDIANA CODE OF ORDINANCES
  28. ↑ "Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Now Protected in Marion County" (PDF). Hall, Render, Killian, Heath & Lyman. February 9, 2006. Retrieved January 2, 2013.
  29. ↑ "Indiana Gov. Pence defends religious objections law: 'This bill is not about discrimination'". The Chicago Tribune. Retrieved March 26, 2015.
  30. ↑ "NCAA 'concerned' over Indiana law that allows biz to reject gays". CNN. March 26, 2015. Retrieved March 26, 2015.
  31. ↑ Tom Davies (March 27, 2015). "Indiana officials look to stem religious objections fallout". Associated Press.
  32. ↑ "Thousands march in Indiana to protest law seen targeting gays". Reuters. March 29, 2015.
  33. ↑ "Hundreds rally against Indiana law, say it's discriminatory". Associated Press. March 28, 2015.
  34. ↑ Indiana Adoption Law
  35. ↑ Indiana legislature rules in favor of lesbian couples using donor insemination
  36. ↑ Same-sex Indiana couple celebrates birth certificate win
  37. ↑ Same-sex couples win birth certificate lawsuit
  38. ↑ Wang, Stephanie (January 31, 2017). "State appeals ruling on parental rights for same-sex couples". Indy Star.
  39. ↑ Changing Name and Gender Markers on Legal Documents
  40. ↑ Bill Would Stop Trans People from Changing Sex on Birth Certificates LawNewz
  41. ↑ Republican quashes anti-transgender bill The Indianapolis Star
  42. ↑ Republican Lawmaker Makes Surprise Showing Of LGBT Support, Blocks Anti-Trans Bill NewNextNow
  43. ↑ "A Guide to State Level Advocacy Following Enactment of the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act" (PDF). Human Rights Campaign. Human Rights Campaign. Retrieved October 12, 2014.
  44. ↑ "Indiana Code 10-13-3 - Criminal History Information". Indiana General Assembly. Retrieved October 12, 2014.
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