Post by Ayla on Feb 2, 2016 15:04:50 GMT 8
INDIANAPOLIS -
At the statehouse, the Senate has two days left to deal with the issue of civil rights.
The bill currently being considered in the Senate, SB 344, extends civil rights protections to lesbian, gay and bisexual people, but not transgender Hoosiers.
We talked to one transgender Hoosier about how it feels to be left out.
Korvin Bothwell knows all about the twists and turns when it comes to skating, particularly roller derby skating.
"The thing about building a skate is, it has to be accurate from side-to-side and it has to be identical on both skates," Bothwell said as he worked on the skates in his Fountain Square business.
He owns and operates Vital Skates, the only roller derby store in Indiana, but he has been spending a lot of time away from work at his store, learning about the twists and turns of politics at the Indiana Statehouse, lobbying for equal rights for the LGBT community. He even shook hands with Senate President Pro Tem David Long Monday morning as LGBT advocates greeted lawmakers at the statehouse.
"The idea that we are uncommon, I wanted to dispel that idea and I also wanted to drive the point home that we need full protection without any carve outs," he said.
In other words, Bothwell wants to be included, not excluded.
He also testified before the Senate Committee that heard SB 344 last week and admitted it hurt to have transgender Hoosiers like himself left out.
"Something that we heard a lot of Wednesday night was that anti-discrimination law was a solution looking for a problem and that is exactly what the bathroom issue is. There is no record of any such problems in all the other places where transgender people have the right to use public facilities," he added.
The sign on the front of his business says it all.
"We could lead the way and show people that there is nothing to fear and no problem here. Let's all just live and let live and get on with our lives," Bothwell said.
Get back to business.
Again, the LGBT civil rights bill is expected to be heard on seconds tomorrow and before the full Senate on Wednesday. All bills have to clear the Senate or the House on Wednesday.
www.wthr.com/story/31107801/transgender-hoosiers-speak-out-about-exclusion-in-indianas-civil-rights-protections-bill
At the statehouse, the Senate has two days left to deal with the issue of civil rights.
The bill currently being considered in the Senate, SB 344, extends civil rights protections to lesbian, gay and bisexual people, but not transgender Hoosiers.
We talked to one transgender Hoosier about how it feels to be left out.
Korvin Bothwell knows all about the twists and turns when it comes to skating, particularly roller derby skating.
"The thing about building a skate is, it has to be accurate from side-to-side and it has to be identical on both skates," Bothwell said as he worked on the skates in his Fountain Square business.
He owns and operates Vital Skates, the only roller derby store in Indiana, but he has been spending a lot of time away from work at his store, learning about the twists and turns of politics at the Indiana Statehouse, lobbying for equal rights for the LGBT community. He even shook hands with Senate President Pro Tem David Long Monday morning as LGBT advocates greeted lawmakers at the statehouse.
"The idea that we are uncommon, I wanted to dispel that idea and I also wanted to drive the point home that we need full protection without any carve outs," he said.
In other words, Bothwell wants to be included, not excluded.
He also testified before the Senate Committee that heard SB 344 last week and admitted it hurt to have transgender Hoosiers like himself left out.
"Something that we heard a lot of Wednesday night was that anti-discrimination law was a solution looking for a problem and that is exactly what the bathroom issue is. There is no record of any such problems in all the other places where transgender people have the right to use public facilities," he added.
The sign on the front of his business says it all.
"We could lead the way and show people that there is nothing to fear and no problem here. Let's all just live and let live and get on with our lives," Bothwell said.
Get back to business.
Again, the LGBT civil rights bill is expected to be heard on seconds tomorrow and before the full Senate on Wednesday. All bills have to clear the Senate or the House on Wednesday.
www.wthr.com/story/31107801/transgender-hoosiers-speak-out-about-exclusion-in-indianas-civil-rights-protections-bill