LGBT rights in Indiana

In 1795, Indiana as part of the Northwest Territory passed the "buggery" law, which punished male sodomy with death. In 1807, the Indiana Territory enacted a criminal code which included a sodomy provision, eliminating the gender-specifics (meaning it would be applicable to both heterosexual and homosexual conduct), reducing the penalty to one to five years' imprisonment, a fine of 100 to 500 dollars, up to 500 lashes and a permanent loss of civil rights. Sodomy was briefly legal between the years 1852 and 1881, as a new criminal code was passed without any mention to sodomy. In 1881, the state passed a statute outlawing anal intercourse, fellatio (oral sex) as well as masturbation under the age of 21 (which was labelled "self-pollution") for both heterosexuals and homosexuals. Penalty was set at "not more than fourteen years nor less than two years". In the 1923 case of Young v. State, the Indiana Supreme Court unanimously ruled that cunnilingus was also criminal, and in 1939, in Connell v. State, rejected contentions had the statute applied only to homosexual sexual activity.^[2]

In 1949, the state passed a psychopathic offender law, under which any person above 16 years of age suffering from a "mental disorder" "coupled with criminal propensities to the commission of sex offenses" would be labelled a "criminal sexual psychopathic person". Those convicted of sodomy would not be able to leave correctional institutions until their "full recovery of criminal psychopathy". A law review article in 1947 showed 160 commitments under the law, of which 60 (38%) were for sodomy and none of the offenders had been a woman. A majority of these commitments were for heterosexual conduct. In 1959, an amendment to the law meant that those refusing to cooperate with examining psychiatrists could be held in contempt of court. In 20 years of operation, only 10 "consensual adult homosexuals" were committed under the law. The law was upheld by the Indiana Supreme Court in 1968 in State ex rel. Haskett v. Marion County Criminal Court, Division One et al. In 1971, the Indiana General Assembly amended the law, removing sodomy from the list of triggering offenses, if consensual and committed with an adult person.^[2]

In 1967, in a divided 3-2 ruling, the Indiana Supreme Court upheld as constitutionally sufficient an indictment charging the "abominable and detestable crime against nature". Justice Amos W. Jackson dissented, writing that the

very language of the statute purporting to define the offense of sodomy, is so indefinite and uncertain that its unconstitutionality follows as certainly as night follows day.

Jackson further wrote that he

hoped that the incoming legislature will either clarify or abolish this anarchism reminiscent of the heyday of the witch hunts of early colonial times. In today's space age and sophisticated society, it seems that the statute should spell out in language understandable by the person of average scholastic attainment and intelligence the specific nature of the crime with which he is charged and if that cannot be done then it should not be denominated a crime.

In 1968, in Cotner v. Henry, the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals ruled 2-1 that married couples could not be prosecuted under the sodomy statute. In Dickson v. State (1971), the Indiana Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of the sodomy law, in a divided 3-2 vote.^[2] Dissenting, Justice Roger DeBruler wrote that the

moral preferences of the majority may not be imposed on everyone else unless there exists some harm to other persons. Sexual acts between consenting adults in private do not harm anyone else and should be free from state regulation.

Indiana decriminalized same-sex sexual activity in 1976, effective on July 1, 1977.^[3] The age of consent is 16.^[4] An attempt to reinstate consensual sodomy as a felony was rejected by a House committee in 1977, by a 6-4 vote.^[2]

Same-sex marriages are recognized and performed in Indiana under a federal court decision in October 2014.^[5]

Annual attempts to adopt a constitutional amendment defining marriage as the union of a man and a woman have failed since 2004. Indiana requires that two separately elected legislatures approve an amendment for it to be put to a popular vote. The proposed amendment passed both chambers in 2005,^[6] and then again in 2011.^[7] On June 25, 2014, U. S. District Court Judge Young declared Indiana's same-sex marriage ban to be unconstitutional, and same-sex couples immediately began to secure marriage licenses.^[8] However, the ruling was appealed. On October 6, 2014, the U.S. Supreme Court refused to hear the appeal, effectively legalizing same-sex marriage in Indiana.^[9]

Domestic partnerships

There is no recognition of domestic partnerships at the state level in Indiana. Three cities have passed such opportunities.

• Bloomington

In 1997, Bloomington established domestic partnerships for unmarried city employees.^[10]

• Carmel

Carmel has established domestic partnerships for unmarried city employees.^[10]

• Indianapolis

On August 13, 2012, the Indianapolis City-County Council, in a 20-8 bipartisan vote, established domestic partnerships for all married and unmarried employees in the city and county. On August 23, 2012, Mayor Greg Ballard signed the ordinance into law which went into effect on January 1, 2013.^[10][11]

Governor Joe Kernan issued an executive order in 2004 protecting state employees from discrimination based on sexual orientation as well as gender identity and expression. In 2005, Governor Mitch Daniels added the terms "sexual orientation" and "gender identity" to the list of protected categories in state employment covered by the state's Equal Employment Opportunity policy.^[12]

In 2013, Kim Hively filed a lawsuit against the Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana in South Bend, arguing that she was denied promotions and let go from her job because of her sexual orientation. The United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit heard oral arguments in the case, known as Hively v. Ivy Tech Community College, in November 2016 with discussion focusing on the meaning of the word "sex" in Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, which bans workplace discrimination based on race, religion, national origin or sex. On April 4, 2017, the Court of Appeals ruled in an 8-3 vote that the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits employment discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation via the category of "sex". Ivy Tech subsequently stated they would not appeal the ruling to the Supreme Court.^[13] Human Rights Campaign hailed the ruling, saying: "Today's ruling is a monumental victory for fairness in the workplace, and for the dignity of lesbian, gay and bisexual Americans who may live in fear of losing their job based on whom they love."^[14] The court decision establishes that workplace discrimination on account of sexual orientation (such as in hiring or promotions, etc.) violates federal civil rights law, and is therefore prohibited. The ruling is only binding to the states of Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin.^[15]

The counties of Marion,^[16] Monroe,^[16] Tippecanoe,^[17] and Vanderburgh,^[18] along with the cities and towns of Anderson,^[19] Bloomington,^[16] Carmel,^[20] Columbus,^[21] Crawfordsville,^[22] Evansville,^[16] Hammond,^[23] Indianapolis,^[16] Kokomo,^[24] Lafayette,^[25] Michigan City,^[26] Muncie,^[21] Munster,^[27] New Albany,^[28] South Bend,^[16] Terre Haute,^[21] Valparaiso,^[29] West Lafayette,^[30] and Zionsville,^[21] have ordinances prohibiting employment discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity.

Lake County,^[31] Fort Wayne,^[32] and Whitestown^[21] have ordinances prohibiting employment discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation only.

Religious objections

On March 26, 2015, Governor Mike Pence signed the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA), also known as the Indiana "religious objections" bill, into law.^[33] The law's signing was met with widespread criticism by such organizations as the NCAA, Apple CEO Tim Cook, the gamer convention Gen Con, and the Disciples of Christ. Technology company Salesforce.com said it would halt its plans to expand in the state.^[34][35] Thousands protested against the policy.^[36][37]

On April 2, 2015, Governor Pence signed a measure into law which was intended to be a clarification of the newly enacted legislation. According to The Indianapolis Star:^[38]

Specifically, the new language says the RFRA does not authorize a provider—including businesses or individuals—to refuse to offer or provide services, facilities, goods, employment, housing or public accommodation to any member of the public based on sexual orientation or gender identity, in addition to race, color, religion, ancestry, age, national origin, disability, sex or military service.

— Indy Star (April 2, 2015)

Gay-Straight Alliances

In December 2021, a federal judge allowed gay-straight alliances to be permitted within public schools. A group of students sued the school in Pendleton for banning gay-straight alliances.^[39][40]

Indiana statutes permit single LGBT persons to adopt. The state Court of Appeals ruled in 2006 that unmarried couples, including same-sex couples, may adopt as well. Local courts also support the right of a same-sex partner to adopt his or her same-sex partner's biological or adopted child.^[41]

In 2005, the Indiana Court of Appeals unanimously ruled that lesbian partners who agree to conceive a child through artificial insemination are both the legal parents of any children born to them.^[42] Indiana law allows any woman to undergo artificial insemination. The spouse of a pregnant women is generally presumed to be the parent of her child.^[43]

On June 30, 2016, a federal judge ruled in Henderson v. Box that Indiana must allow same-sex couples to list both their names on their children's birth certificates. The ruling came as a result of a federal lawsuit filed by eight same-sex couples who were unable to list the non-gestational parent's name on the child's birth certificate. When an opposite-sex couple had a child, the state granted a "presumption of parenthood" to the father and listed him on the birth certificate. However, when a same-sex couple had a child, the state denied that presumption and forced the second partner to undergo an adoption, a "long, arduous and expensive" process.^[44][45] In January 2017, Attorney General Curtis Hill appealed the ruling to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit,^[46][47] which unanimously upheld it on January 17, 2020.^[48][49] In December 2020, the SCOTUS declined the case (and that means automatically upheld the previous 7th Circuit rulings).^[50]

Surrogacy contracts are "void and unenforceable" in Indiana. While surrogacy is not specifically illegal in the state and can be practiced, courts will generally refuse to recognize such contracts, so intended parents, including same-sex couples, must complete an adoption application.^[51]

Bathroom and pronouns usage in schools

In May 2023, just days after the bill passed through both houses of the Indiana General Assembly, the Governor of Indiana signed into law Indiana HB 1608, which prohibits classroom instruction pertaining to "human sexuality" from kindergarten to third grade. Additionally, if a non-emancipated minor student asks an educator to refer to them by a different name, gender pronoun, or title, the law compels the school to report the event in writing to at least one parent of the student.^[52]

In August 2023, a federal judge for the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit upheld a lower court's preliminary injunction, preventing Indiana schools from limiting the bathroom usage of transgender students (pending litigation).^[53]

Identity documents

Transgender persons may change their legal gender on their Indiana birth certificate. They must get a court order from a court anywhere in the US, submit an application for a birth certificate and a copy of a photo ID to the Corrections Section of the Indiana State Department of Health Vital Records, and pay fees. Gender-affirming surgery is not required.^[54]

An "X" gender marker is no longer offered. From March 2019 to January 2020, the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles did offer a "gender X" option on driver's licenses. To request it, applicants needed to present a certified, amended birth certificate that attests to the gender change or a signed, dated physician's statement confirming a permanent gender change.^[55] On November 15, 2019, in a public hearing by the Bureau of Motor Vehicles, the policy was overwhelmingly rejected. In March 2020, Indiana Attorney General Curtis Hill published an opinion that the Bureau had overstepped their bounds, and that "only the General Assembly may determine whether the state of Indiana will codify any non-binary designations on state documents".^[56][57]

A 2017 effort to prevent gender marker changes on birth certificates was unsuccessful. On January 12, 2017, Representative Bruce Borders introduced a bill in the Indiana House of Representatives that would have prevented transgender people from doing this.^[58] The organization Freedom Indiana objected to the denial of "the very existence of transgender people, the identity they live as and the person they have always known themselves to be."^[59] The next day, Representative Cindy Kirchhofer, chair of the House Public Health Committee, denied the bill a hearing, effectively killing it.^[60]

Gender-affirming care for minors

In March 2023, the Indiana state legislature passed Senate Bill 480, banning access to gender affirming healthcare to minors. Under this bill, physicians and other professionals could not provide gender transition procedures to persons under 18 years of age, or knowingly "aiding and abetting" a physician in such care. The bill proposed that minors not receiving gender-affirming medical care by July 1, 2023 would not be able to begin receiving it. Minors already receiving gender-affirming care by July 1, 2023, would lose access to such care after six months. The bill was signed into law by Governor of Indiana Eric Holcomb, effective immediately under an "emergency clause," in early April, 2023.^{[61][62][63][64][65]}

On the same day the bill was signed, the ACLU of Indiana and ACLU National (American Civil Liberties Union) sued on behalf of four transgender youth and their families, as well as a doctor and health care clinic. The lawsuit alleges Senate Bill 480 violates the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment of the US Constitution.^[65]

On June 16, 2023, a federal judge temporarily blocked the law, so it did not take effect on July 1, pending the outcome of the lawsuit.^[66] However, on February 27, 2024, the healthcare ban took effect when the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals stayed the lower court's injunction.^[67]

Transgender sports ban

In March 2022, Indiana HB 1041 passed the Indiana General Assembly banning transgender girls in K-12 schools from playing on women's teams. The Governor of Indiana Eric Holcomb vetoed the bill in the same month.^[68][69] 10 US states have implemented similar legislation.^[70][71][72]

On May 24, 2022, the General Assembly overrode Governor Holcomb's veto, passing the bill into law. The law is expected to be challenged in court.^[73]

Gender-affirming healthcare within prisons ban

In April 2023, the Governor of Indiana, Eric Holcomb, signed into law Indiana House Bill 1569. It banned any gender-affirming healthcare within prisons, specifically using state resources or federal funds for "sexual reassignment surgery to an offender patient." The bill will take effect July 1, 2023. It will not impact offender patients approved for sexual reassignment surgery prior to July 1, 2023.^[74][75]

Previously, Indiana collected data on "bias crimes", which had included sexual orientation bias since 2003, but did not criminalize them as hate crimes nor alter proposed sentencing requirements due to sexual orientation bias.^[76][77] Such hate crimes, however, are covered federally under the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act.

In April 2019, the Indiana General Assembly passed a bill with various controversial and contentious amendments on hate crimes. Unlike other hate crime laws in the United States, Indiana's law does not list specific categories, instead "[making] it an aggravating circumstance that a crime was committed with the intent to harm or intimidate an individual or a group of individuals because of certain perceived or actual characteristics". Governor Eric Holcomb signed the bill into law on April 3.^[78][79] The lack of a specific list of categories drew criticism and claims that it violates the vagueness doctrine. As a result of the law, judges may consider a stricter sentence for someone who committed a crime based on the victim's sexual orientation or gender identity.^[80]

In May 2023, the Governor of Indiana signed a bill into law that passed both houses of the Indiana General Assembly to explicitly ban all local level governments - at both a city and county level across all of Indiana from implementing conversion therapy bans by ordinance and/or executive order. The impact of this law was to essentially keep conversion therapy legal indirectly.^[81]

A 2022 Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI) opinion poll found that 67% of Indiana residents supported same-sex marriage, while 31% opposed it and 1% were unsure. The same poll found that 78% of Indiana residents supported an anti-discrimination law covering sexual orientation and gender identity while 20% were opposed. 2% were undecided. Additionally, 57% were against allowing public businesses to refuse to serve LGBT people due to religious beliefs, while 40% supported allowing such religious-based refusals. 2% were undecided. ^[82]

• LGBT rights in the United States