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Proposition 622, extending the Indianapolis & Marion County’s Human Rights ordinance to include those with disabilities as well as gay, lesbian and transgendered citizens in discrimination passed duri,g a special session of the Indianapolis City/County Council 15-14.

Also, the proposition to consolidate the county and city police forces beginning with a transition team made up mostly of members of the police community passed 16-13.

The Indianapolis City-County Council vote on Proposition 622, the amendment to the equal rights ordiance for the city/county that would protect the GLBT community from discrimination (among other updates to the ordinance). Anyone who can make it to support the proposition are urged to come.

Indianapolis City County Council meeting.
Monday December 19, 7:00pm
Public Assembly Room
City-County Building
200 E Washington St
Indianapolis

It’ll be sure to be packed, so get there early to get a seat. Let’s show the council that Indianapolis doesn’t endorse hate.

Also afterwards Indiana Equality will be holding a victory party.

After the meeting, join us at The Scholar’s Inn for a victory party. Appetizers and 1/2 priced bottles of wine will be available.

The Scholar’s Inn
725 Massachusetts Ave.
Indianapolis

Holiday Photos are now up. Check them out!

The IDC Holiday Party was a good time for all. While food and friendship was the order of the evening, there were a few bits of official business and I’ll post those now. A photo gallery from the night will be up tonight or tomorrow.

First up, the 2006 IDC Officers were elected:

• President: Ken Kern
• 1st Vice President: Eileen Collins
• 2nd Vice President: Cheryl Kern
• Secretary: Jason Borneman
• Treasurer: David Williams
• Assistant Treasurer: Mike Oles
• Sgt. At Arms: Robert Jackson

Board Members for the term ending 2007

• G. David Caudill
• Hon. Carl Drummer
• David Gilman
• Suzanne Jackson
• Ron King
• Willie Pryor
• Ossie Pryor
• Hon. Larry Ryan
• Gary Taylor
• Rosemary Vandivier

Yearly Awards:

• Democratic Co-Men Of The Year: Indianapolis Mayor Bart Peterson and Marion County Sherrif Frank Anderson
• Democratic Woman Of The Year: Representative Julia Carson (IN-07)
• Lawrence J. Sexton Award: Jason Borneman

Look for a photo gallery sometime tonight or tomorrow.

WASHINGTON (AP) - In a symbolic move, the House endorsed a Senate-passed ban on cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment of foreign terrorism suspects Wednesday as negotiations between the White House and Sen. John McCain over the provision appeared at an impasse.

Approved 308-122, the procedural vote puts political pressure on House negotiators - but does not require them - to include the ban and another provision standardizing interrogation techniques used by U.S. troops in a final wartime military spending bill.

121 of the 122 Nay votes were Republicans. 5 of those were Indiana Republicans. If you are a constituent of one of the following Congressional Representatives, contact them and ask them why they support torture.

• Souder, R, IN-03
• Buyer, R, IN-04
• Burton, R, IN-05
• Pence, R, IN-06
• Hostettler, R, IN-08

Also, thank the 4 who voted for this measure, even if they are Republicans. Urge the two Republicans who voted for the measure to continue to support it when a real bill for this reaches the House floor.

• Visclosky, D, IN-01
• Chocola, R, IN-02 (office phone numbers at the bottom of the page in a graphic)
• Carson, D, IN-07
• Sodrel, R, IN-09

It is very interesting how out of the three Republicans in the closes House races in Indiana for ‘06 (Chocola, Sodrel & Hostettler), two of them voted for the symbolic measure supporting the torture ban - Chocola and Sodrel. But Hostettler still voted against it. It will also be interesting to compare this symbolic vote to an actual future vote on the compromised bill if/when it finally makes the floor of the House. Will Chocola and Sodrel still make the same stand then?

A few bits of good news from the Indianapolis City/County Council meeting Monday night (I wanted to get these up yesterday, but alas…)

First:

A City-County Council committee tonight passed a proposal banning discrimination against gays, moving the measure to the full council Tuesday night.

Supporters are continuing to search for the final vote needed to pass it as early as next week.
Council President Steve Talley said he will call a special session of the council for next Monday night so the council can consider a final vote on the anti-discrimination legislation as well as another controversial issue that was defeated earlier only to rise again.

The Indiana Democratic Club passed a resolution in favor of this proposal (Prop 622) at our October general membership meeting. The vote on this will hopefully take place next Monday night, December 19th. As I find out more details and if this is an open session of the City/County council, I will post here.

Further good news about the Mayor’s proposed merger of the city and county police departments:

A Republican City-County Council member agreed Monday to switch his vote against merging city and county police forces, giving the controversial plan new life just four weeks after it failed in a dramatic 15-14 vote.

Scott Keller, who represents the Eastside, said he would join 14 Democrats to pass the proposal after small changes were made to emphasize that hiring and promotion within the new department would be based on merit, not political considerations. He also wanted written assurance that no police officers would be moved from the city’s core to the suburbs as a way to bolster a Sheriff’s Department that has requested 250 additional deputies.

A public hearing and vote by the City-County Council’s Law Enforcement Consolidation Committee is scheduled for TONIGHT at 5:30 pm in Room 260 of the City-County Building, 200 E. Washington St. The vote on the full measure could take place at same special session next Monday night that Prop 622 could be voted on as well.

Next Monday could be a big day at the City/County council. If it’s a public meeting (I will attempt to find out ASAP) I will post details here.

And a third piece of good news that I was informed of last night at the IDC Holiday Party (update on that coming tonight) is that the Community Affairs Committee voted to endorse the Justice for Janitors campaign. The Indiana Democratic Club has previously voted to sign onto the petition supporting Justice for Janitors. Unfortunately, there’s nothing in the Star about this and the minutes are not yet on Indygov.

Tomorrow night, Tuesday December 13th is the annual Indiana Democratic Club Christmas Party. Join members of the IDC, local Democrats, Indianapolis Mayor bart Peterson and others at the Bona Thompson Memorial Center in Irvington. Here are the details:

When: Tuesday, December 13th @ 5:30pm
Where: Bona Thompson memorial Center, 5350 University Ave, Indianapolis.
How much: All you can eat for $5
Sponsors: Sponsors: Hon. Paula Lopossa, Jean Breaux, Leon bates and Angela Davis. (More sponsors could still be used for the dinner [$70] and wine [$150 for your own label on a case of wine at the dinner]) For more information or to make a reservation, call Ken or Cheryl Kern at (317)357-4903

Mayor Bart Peterson will be on hand to talk about the past year and the upcoming year in Indy.

This is last minute but urgent. There will be a public committee hearing on Proposition 622 that will give equal rights to GLBT citizens of Marion Country. Via the Human Rights Campaign email list:

Proposition 622 updates the Indianapolis Human Rights Ordinance. Among the provisions of the proposition is the prohibition of discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.

TONIGHT! December 5, 2005 at 5:30pm, the Indianapolis City-County Council will hold a public committee hearing on Proposition 622. The Rules and Public Policy Committee will hear testimony on the proposed changes from the community. The meeting will be televised.

Tell the Indianapolis City-County Council to support equality and fairness for all! Attend Monday night’s hearing and ask your friends, family and neighbors to join you. A large public turnout will help ensure the committee’s support.

TONIGHT! - December 5, 2005 at 5:30pm
(arrive early for seating)
City-County Building
200 E Washington St - downtown
The Public Assembly Room - council chambers

Your help is needed! Proposition 622 needs 15 votes to pass. The ordinance was introduced with 12 co-sponsors. We’re still 3 votes short. We have to influence those votes.

You can also use the HRC website to write the members of the City/County Council about this issue.

Update: At-Large City-County Councilman Ron Gibson will be taking calls from constitutents (constituents ONLY, please) tomorrow (Thursday, 12/8) at 2pm. See the post at bilerico for more information.

The federal court order says the Speaker of the House must now tell guests he invites to pray not to mention the name Jesus or not to “advance any one faith or belief” or put any religion down.

Ken Falk of the Indiana Civil Liberties Union says it’s the right decision. “(We’re) obviously very pleased. The significance of this decision is it makes clear the House of Representatives speaks for all of us. And if there’s a prayer in the House it should be inclusive of everyone, not exclusive.”

ICLU Executive Director Fran Quigley will be speaking at the Indiana Democratic Club early next year, in January or February. Stay tuned for details.