INDIANAPOLIS - To ensure equality for all Hoosiers, Indiana's lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender citizens have announced a statewide fundraising effort to acquire the funds needed for an ongoing, grassroots advocacy campaign.

The Indiana Equality Fairness 200 Campaign seeks to raise $400,000 to advance legislation amending Indiana's civil rights law to protect against discrimination based on either sexual orientation or gender identity. The campaign will also support efforts to make certain that relationship protections for LGBT couples and families are not outlawed by an amendment to the state constitution.

The fundraising campaign is being launched with a matching challenge of $200,000 from Mr. Otis Vincent, a Fort Wayne resident and founder of the Northeast Indiana AIDS Memorial.

The Fairness 200 Campaign seeks 200 individuals to donate $1,000 each. While a statewide effort, special outreach will be targeted to individuals in Bloomington, Fort Wayne, Indianapolis, and Lafayette.

"The state legislature in 2007 will again consider a constitutional amendment that bans not only same-sex civil marriage, but any 'legal incident of marriage' for unmarried couples - both straight and gay. This proposal undercuts equal protection, threatening every government-enforced protection and every vestige of first-class citizenship for LGBT Hoosiers," commented Lori Sirtosky of Indiana Equality. "Sadly, this is not the only hostile legislation that LGBT Hoosiers will face next year."

"Legislative proposals are expected that would forbid gays and lesbians from fostering or adopting children, as well as legislation to ban public universities in the state of Indiana from offering domestic partner benefits," explained Michael Lingenfelter, fundraising chair for Indiana Equality. "Such proposals are clearly designed to make second-class citizens of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender Hoosiers."

Recent polls in Indiana and across the nation demonstrate overwhelming support for basic rights for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender citizens. Majorities favor equality in employment, housing, and public accommodations, by very significant margins.

"The Radical Right - mobilized, organized, and well funded - are ready to turn their massive firepower on the Indiana Statehouse. Their goal is to destroy equal rights and family protections for gay and transgender Hoosiers," stated Vincent. "The Fairness 200 Campaign will guarantee a more balanced debate."

Founded in 2003, Indiana Equality is a coalition of organizations from around the state that focus on ensuring basic human rights for Indiana's LGBT citizens. Participating organizations include the Interfaith Coalition on Nondiscrimination, Indiana Transgender Rights Advocacy Alliance, Indiana Action Network, Justice, Inc., Indiana PFLAG Alliance, Indianapolis Rainbow Chamber of Commerce, National Association of Social Workers - Indiana Chapter, Human Rights Campaign Indianapolis Steering Committee, Citizens for Civil Rights, and the Northeast Indiana AIDS Memorial, as well as regional steering committees in the Indianapolis, Bloomington, Evansville, Fort Wayne, Lafayette, and South Bend areas.

 Indiana Equality Website