I'm a Hoosier, and I'm taking a stand against hate as part of the LGBTQ Push Back Giveaway

I'm thrilled to be a part of the LGBTQ Push Back Giveaway on Diversereader! There are 224 authors, bloggers, and publishers who are donating something to this massive giveaway. All you have to do to enter is donate to an LGBT charity of your choice in the next two weeks and then enter the giveaway. If you can't donate, you can help by spreading the word. Every little bit helps, and everyone can enter.

As a Hoosier, I'll be donating to the Indiana charities that support the LGBTQ community here. Freedom Indiana was instrumental in getting the most vicious part of SB101 (aka the Religious Freedom Bill) amended, and they're not stopping there. While it's true that business owners can't use SB101 to discriminate against LGBTQ people now that Gov. Pence has amended the language in the bill, we have a lot more work to do. We want to get LGBTQ people recognized as an official protected class here in Indiana, and Freedom Indiana is working hard on organizing protests and campaigns to bring awareness to the fact that SB101 was only the tip of the iceberg here.

The Bub carrying a sign he made for the Stop the Madness Rally,
as well as the sign he carried in 2008 when we protested Prop 8.

I've taught  my kids that it's wrong to discriminate, and my 8 year old and 5 year old are both appalled at the thought that someone could be turned away because of their sexuality. They have stood up to friends on the playground who spout homophobic tripe, and I've seen the eight year old stare down a full grown adult on more than one occasion when we were out in public and heard someone make a derogatory comment.

I'm proud of my kids, and they're the future of Indiana. We saw quite a few children and young adults when we joined in with Freedom Indiana to march in downtown Indianapolis after SB101 was signed into law. My kids chose to go because they wanted  to protest LGBTQ Hoosiers being treated like second class citizens, and they wanted to show the rest of the world to know that not everyone here agrees with the legislature and the few small-minded business owners who were willing to go on record supporting the bill.

The Barnacle made her own sign as well. So proud of these kiddos!

It also underscored the importance of the charities here in Indiana who not only fight for equal rights but support LGBTQ people in need, especially children and teenagers who have been turned out of their homes or made to feel like they are wrong or broken in some way. One of my very best friends works with the Indiana Youth Group, and some of the stories she tells about the LGBTQ youth there break my heart. 

So join me in pushing back against SB101 and the treatment of LGBTQ people as second class citizens. Instead of spouting vitriol and hate like those who are in favor of the bill, let's push back with kindness. Let's put our money where our mouths are and donate to charities that support LGBTQ people, both to help further their missions and to show the LGBTQ community that they are loved. They are valuable. They are not second class citizens

Some of my favorite organizations right now:
Freedom Indiana
Indiana Youth Group
#Pizza4Equality

And don't forget to visit the post over at Diversereader once you've donated or spoken out to get yourself entered in the giveaway!