Advocacy groups across the nation will hold a caravan around the Indianapolis Catholic Center to protest the ban on trans students in Catholic schools.

INDIANAPOLIS – LGBTQ+ advocacy groups across the state and nation are uniting to host a car caravan around the Indianapolis Archdiocese Catholic Center on Saturday, July 11 at 1:30 p.m. The protest is being held to speak out against the Indianapolis Archdiocese’s recently announced policy to exclude and expel trans students from 60+ Catholic schools in Indiana. 

“The Indianapolis Archdiocese’s policy is reprehensible, and our trans youth deserve choice in the school they go to without fear of being denied entry based on who they are,” said Shelly Fitzgerald, a former Roncalli Catholic High School Guidance Director who was fired for being in a same-sex marriage. “I invite community members across the state to join us in protest and display the strength of the LGBTQ community and its allies.” 

Shelly’s Voice has partnered with about a dozen organizations including Indiana Youth Group, The Ariadne Getty Foundation, GLAAD, Dignity USA, and PFLAG Indianapolis to bring a wide coalition of LGBTQ and interfaith support to this protest. Attendees will hear directly from trans youth affected by the archdiocese’s exclusionary policy, as well as elected officials, national and local LGBTQ activists, and interfaith leaders. 

“I am thankful for the advocacy groups across Indiana and the nation who are joining forces to protest the Indianapolis Archdiocese’s discriminatory policy,” said Chris Paulsen, CEO of Indiana Youth Group. “IYG is committed to fighting for our LGBTQ youth, and we need our community to unite to show the Catholic Church we will not stand for this.” 

Participants should meet in the parking lot across from the Catholic Center at 1401 N. Meridian Street (the parking lot between Big Brothers and Big Sister and VirtUSA). The program will begin at 1:30 p.m., and the caravan will launch at 2 p.m. around the 14th and 15th block of Meridian Street (map and logistics below).  For those who cannot join by car, we encourage you to tune into Shelly’s Voice Advocacy’s Facebook page where the program and caravan will be live streamed. 

Media Contact:

Sam Varie, samvarie@gmail.com

Indianapolis, IN – Tuesday, June 24, 2020 –  Shelly’s Voice, the nationally-supported advocacy group formed to defend and protect LGBTQ teachers and school staff from discrimination and unjust dismissal, responds today to the Archdiocese of Indianapolis’ intentions to expel transgender students from their various schools across the city. Shelly’s Voice statement reads:

Shelly’s Voice Advocacy is frightened and dismayed by the new Archdiocesan policy which denies the trans community their dignity and rights. Within the eight-page policy that refuses to use the term transgender, it states “any student whose ‘gender’ has been legally changed from their biological sex, or who has chemically and/or surgically altered their given biology, may not be eligible for enrollment.” This policy advises schools to not allow transgender students to enroll, as well as advocates for ‘trained’ professionals to help adolecents who are confused about their gender identity by defining “issues of self identity” in accordance with the Catholic teaching.  

In 2018, Shelly Fitzgerald was fired for being gay. 

In 2019, Kelley Fisher was fired for being an LGBTQ+ ally.

Lynn Starkey and Josh Payne-Elliott were fired for being gay.

Archbishop Thompson talks with ten LGBTQ+ students at Roncalli without parental consent about the church’s teaching on homosexuality.

Dominic Conover and dozens of students were silenced for speaking out.

Brebeuf Jesuit was ousted for supporting LGBTQ+ equality.

In 2020, we are seeing the Archdiocese take a bold step in openly discriminating against its most vulnerable students. 

Studies have shown that more than half of transgender adolecents have suicidal ideation and almost half attempt suicide at least once. The Archdiocese’s new policy is doing more than just preventing students from going to school, it is making a statement to LGBTQ+ youth and their allies: You are not welcome and you are not wanted.  We encourage our allies and supporters to call and email the Archdiocese of Indianapolis and express how harmful this new policy is. The Archdiocese of Indianapolis has procured a mental health crisis and it is imperative that we stand with the trans community and demand the dignity LGBTQ+ people deserve.

Shelly’s Voice plans to gather its supporters and continue advocating for change in the Archdiocese of Indianapolis. 

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Media Contact:
Dominic Conover
dominic@shellysvoice.org

Shelly’s Voice provides holistic programming, responsible advisement, and leading resources to a national network of young activists dedicated to the advancement of LGBTQ equality. Learn more at shellysvoice.org

Indianapolis, IN – June 15th, 2020 – The Supreme Court made a 6-3 decision Monday morning protecting LGBTQ+ workers through the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The court ruled that the Act’s language (prohibiting discrimination on the basis of sex) includes sexual orientation and gender identity. This is a historic step for LGBTQ+ Americans, but after 5 (public) LGBTQ-related firings in Indianapolis in less than 2 years, Shelly’s Voice Advocacy encourages their supporters to be ‘cautiously optimistic’ and ‘continue fighting for those whose jobs are still in jeopardy’. Shelly’s Voice released this statement Monday afternoon:

Today, Shelly’s Voice Advocacy celebrates Aimee Stephens, Don Zarda, and Gerald Bostock. Because of their courage and our collective support, the LGBTQ+ family has pushed down yet another barrier. With the Supreme Court’s recent ruling, many LGBTQ+ workers are finally protected, nationwide; however, we must be cautiously optimistic and continue fighting for those whose jobs are still in jeopardy. 

We stand with Shelly Fitzgerald, Lynn Starkey, Kelley Fisher, Joshua Payne-Elliott, and any other Indianapolis LGBTQ+ workers who still continue to fight for equality in the workplace. Shelly’s Voice Advocacy and its activists will continue to bring responsible activism to the Indianapolis community and advocate for all those who have been fired for simply being themselves.

Together In Pride,

Shelly’s Voice Advocacy

“We are seeing a rise in LGBTQ+ discrimination, no doubt. While I believe this Supreme Court decision is helpful, we must continue fighting for the many cases that are still being decided upon” says Raquel Ramsey, the Indianapolis Chapter President of Shelly’s Voice Advocacy. Shelly’s Voice has been working closely with the Indianapolis teachers who have been fired in the past two years.

“Today’s ruling was a monumental decision by the Supreme Court. Although there is much work still to be done for protections of LGBTQ+ people, the statement made by this decision should be considered one of the most important decisions for the LGBTQ+ community to date. Our work is not finished, but today we celebrate” says Shelly Fitzgerald, an LGBTQ+ activist and former guidance counselor at Roncalli High School.

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Media Contact:

Dominic Conover, Shelly’s Voice President

dominic@shellysvoice.org

Shelly’s Voice Advocacy Group provides holistic programming, responsible advisement, and leading resources to a national network of young activists dedicated to the advancement of LGBTQ equality. Learn more at shellysvoice.org