Freedom Indiana on unanimous approval of Columbus human rights ordinance to include sexual orientation, gender identity

INDIANAPOLIS — Freedom Indiana, the statewide grassroots organization that successfully fought a constitutional marriage amendment and sounded the alarm on the economically devastating Indiana Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA), released the following statement following the approval tonight of an updated human rights ordinance in the city of Columbus.

The Columbus Council unanimously voted to include protections for sexual orientation and gender identity in the ordinance. The statement may be attributed to Freedom Indiana campaign manager Chris Paulsen:

“Tonight, after more than a decade of grassroots work and local debate, the Columbus City Council unanimously updated the state’s oldest human rights ordinance to include sexual orientation and gender identity. This is a major win for gay and transgender Hoosiers in Columbus, but it’s also a major boost for the effort to update Indiana’s civil rights law to include sexual orientation and gender identity.

“This outcome is what happens when we work together and listen to each other. Hoosiers understand that these kind of protections help our state and our cities become stronger, more welcoming places where people want to work and live.

“I hope state lawmakers understand that the time has come for Indiana, like Columbus, to send the message that gay and transgender people are welcome here. Thank you to everyone who worked tirelessly in Columbus and to everyone across Indiana who will join us in the coming months to fight for statewide protections.”