Convention Report: Stonewall and Indiana Democrats Stand Up for LGBT Hoosiers

Indiana Stonewall Democrats were proud to participate in this year's Indiana Democratic Convention on Saturday June 26. We had a fantastic caucus session during which a number of candidates came to speak their support for LGBT causes. Also, several members of our board were appointed to standing committees for the convention and the party platform again included strong language supporting non-discrimination based on sexual orientation.

Unfortunately, all language regarding gender identity had been omitted from the proposed platform. We were perplexed by this omission because the 2008 platform had unprecedented support for both sexual orientation and gender identity. Several board members approached state party chair Dan Parker for answers and he was astonished to learn of the omission.

Parker assured us it was an honest mistake, likely due to someone copying and pasting an older version of platform text into the document. He was quick to lay out the correct procedure for how to frame a resolution amending the party platform to re-insert gender identity language at the meeting of the Resolutions Committee later in the day. By chance, Lori Morris, Stonewall president, was a member of the Resolutions Committee and she had the honor of introducing the resolution herself at the meeting, which was enthusiastically adopted by a 13-1 vote.

The reading of the Resolutions Committee report is an essential order of business after the convention is called to order. When the Stonewall resolution was read as part of the committee report, the entire convention hall of Hoosier Democrats erupted in applause and cheers. The enthusiasm for the inclusion of gender identity in the party platform was unexpected for sure, but it is a welcome change from the past.

Stonewall would like to thank the rules committee members and all of the convention delegates and Democratic party officials for such a strong show of support LGBT Hoosiers. We're proud to be Democrats and we're especially proud to be Hoosier Democrats.