TALKING ABOUT FAIRNESS:
RELATIONSHIP EQUALITY
IN INDIANA
Presented By:
FairTalk
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 FairTalk in May, 2011
WHO WE ARE
FairTalk 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:
A world in which equal rights for all are
inherent.
Values: FairTalk 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
(Buf fie, 201 2a; Buf fie, 201 2b)
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 HJR6 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 HJR6
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 HJR6
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 HJR6 & for relationship equality.
Intend to vote against HJR6
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 “FairTalk” 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 bloomingOUT radio show at WFHB
91.3 (or on podcast at www.wfhb.org) for FairTalk
updates and how to get involved.
HAVING CONVERSATIONS
 There are 4,535,169 registered voters in the
State of Indiana (State of Indiana, 201 2 )
 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)
(1)
(10)
WHAT EFFECT COULD YOU HAVE, JUST
HAVING CONVERSATIONS?
In TWELVE
months…
(120)
(1)
(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/#!/FairTalk
Cathleen Weber
cathleen@fair-talk.org
812-272-0538
Jean Capler
jean@fair-talk.org
812-325-0885
REFERENCES
Buffie, W. C. (2012a). Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual/Transgender: Public health issues
[PowerPoint slides].
Buffie, W. C. (2012b). LGBT health issues, Indiana, 2012 [Word document].
State of Indiana (2012). Indiana statewide voter registration system. Retrieved
from https://indianavoters.in.gov/PublicSite/PublicMain.aspx?AspxAutoDetect
CookieSupport=1
SAME LOVE
 Macklemore & Ryan Lewis: Same Love feat. Mary Lambert