Should Anti-Gay Catholic Schools Lose Taxpayer Funding?

Anti-gay Archbishop Charles C. Thompson.

A recent blog post looked at a case where a Jesuit run high school in Indiana defied the dictates of the anti-gay diocesan archbishop who ordered a gay teacher in a same sex marriage be fired. Since the school is operated b the Jesuit order, it is technically not under the thumb of the bigoted local archbishop.  Other Catholic schools in the diocese are not so lucky and in the case of Cathedral High School in Indianapolis, the school administration knuckled under to the bishop's demands and fired a gay teacher. That action has lead to protests outside the archdiocese's offices and now, some members of the state legislature want the schools to lose taxpayer funding under a principle that to me and many others is very simple: if you tax taxpayer money, you do not get to discriminate against any segment of the taxpaying public.  It is the same theory that has seen Catholic adoption and foster agencies in other states lose funding due to their refusal to not discriminate against gays and non-Catholics.  A piece in the Indianapolis Star looks at the controversy and why taking taxpayer funding from Catholic schools in Indiana is justified.  Here are highlights:

When Cathedral High School fired a gay teacher last week over his same-sex marriage, it renewed a long-simmering debate about public money that goes to private schools in the form of taxpayer-funded scholarships.

The school, which has said it was forced by the Archdiocese of Indianapolis to terminate the teacher or lose its status as a Catholic institution, has received more than $6 million from the state over the last six years through Indiana’s “choice scholarship” program.

Indiana began offering “choice scholarships” in 2011 to help low-income families afford a private education. It’s now the country’s largest such voucher program, directing more than $134 million to private schools last year.

“Again, we see a public institution engaged in an obvious act of discrimination because of sexual identity,” said Democratic Rep. Phil GiaQuinta, Indiana’s House minority leader, “but we do not have to sit by and watch this happen.  “I do not feel that the people of Indiana should be financially supporting discrimination against faculty, staff or students at any school.”

Last year, the case of a gay guidance counselor losing her job at Roncalli High School because of her same-sex marriage led to calls for anti-discrimination strings on voucher money.

Several lawmakers filed bills that would have required private schools that participate in the state’s voucher program to have non-discriminatory hiring practices in place. Those efforts failed, though.

With a supermajority in both chambers of the Statehouse, Republicans can block any legislation they choose. As recently as last week, House Speaker Brian Bosma said he continues to support the voucher program, as is. At that time, Senate President Pro Tempore Rodric Bray declined to comment.

Supporters of the program in its current form argue that putting restrictions on the practices of participating schools would harm the “uniqueness” of those institutions, the vast majority of which are religious.

The Archdiocese of Indianapolis is one of the largest benefactors of the program. The 67 schools under the purview of the archdiocese that participated last year received close to $40 million from the state. If they made up a public school district, it would be in the top 50 for receiving state funds, out of about 300.

The archdiocese began requiring all contracts to include the “morality clause” four years ago. It was extended to independent Catholic schools, like Brebeuf Jesuit Preparatory School and Cathedral, two years ago. Gina Fleming, superintendent of Catholic schools for the archdiocese, said similar language was in place even before the current language was mandated.

That’s the language that led Cathedral to fire one of its teachers who is in a same-sex marriage. Brebeuf refused to fire a gay teacher in a same-sex marriage. The Indianapolis archdiocese is no longer recognizing Brebeuf as a Catholic school.

Brebeuf has received more than $1.7 million in the last six years through the voucher program. Roncalli, where two gay guidance counselors have now filed discrimination complaints with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, has received more than $8 million.

The issue has split the Catholic community in Indianapolis. While many parishioners are backing the church, others are outraged at what they see as a targeting of gay people. More than 200 Cathedral students and alumni protested in front of the archdiocese last week, urging Archbishop Charles C. Thompson to reconsider the prohibition of gay married people working in Catholic schools.

Cardinal Ritter and Scecina Memorial, two other high schools within the archdiocese, are among the top voucher-receiving private schools in the state. Each has taken in more than $9 million since 2013. During that same period, schools within the Archdiocese of Indianapolis have received a total nearly $190 million.

$190 million in taxpayer funding - on top of the institutions receiving tax-exempt status which means they are being indirectly funded by the taxpaying public as well.  The irony is that without the ability to gorge themselves at the taxpayer money trough, a number of these discriminatory schools would go out of business because many in the public don't want the bigotry and embrace of ignorance they are peddling. One can only hope that in time Democrats gain enough seats to reverse this outrageous program.

Virginia Republicans Need to Learn What Not to Do From Indiana

Despite a new governor who wants Virginia to be "open for business" and welcoming talent from wherever it may come, since the beginning of the 2018 legislative session, Virginia Republicans, especially in the Virginia Senate are demonstrating that (i) the learned nothing from their party's shellacking in the 2017 elections, and (ii) they will go to any lengths to thwart legislation that would grant LGBT Virginians a shred of equality in civil rights and non-discrimination protections.  Del. Bob Marshall may be gone from Richmond, but his spirit lives on amongst knuckle dragging Republicans.  A piece in LGBTQ Nation looks at how a similar mindset in Indiana has likely killed Indianapolis' chances to be the site of Amazon's new headquarters.  Would that Virginia Republicans would learn from Indiana's mistakes and cease striving to make Virginia toxic to companies like Amazon.  Here are article highlights:

Despite overwhelming support for a proposed hate crimes law, Indiana Republicans have squashed the idea to appease their religious right supporters. Indiana is one of only five states without a hate crimes law.

While Indianapolis was named one of twenty finalists for Amazon’s “HQ2” offices that would bring thousands of high paying jobs to the area, the Fortune 500 company was crystal clear that it would choose a location that values diversity and equality. Experts had already expressed reservations that Indiana would land the prime development and today’s decision only adds another nail to the coffin.

The state is still reeling from former Governor Mike Pence’s disastrous attempt to legalize discrimination against LGBT people, but now state Republicans have completely surrendered to the demands of a small minority that demands complete obedience. Pence infamously went on national television to defend the law he signed while surrounded by the state’s most vociferously anti-LGBT activists and refused to say whether he thought LGBT people should be discriminated against.

“Republicans reinforced just how out-of-touch they are with the majority of Hoosiers, blocking a policy nearly two-thirds of Hoosiers support and 45 other states have enacted,” Indiana Democratic Party Chairman John Zody said in an emailed statement.

“Today’s action proves Statehouse Republicans are more than willing to jeopardize Indianapolis’ shot at landing Amazon’s second headquarters to appease shadowy special interests. [Governor Eric] Holcomb’s inaction and Republicans’ appeasement of special interests may have just cost Hoosiers 50,000 good-paying jobs.”

Given the lunacy of both the GOP base in Virginia and the insanity of far too many Republicans in the General Assembly, it will be a crap shoot as to whether Virginia can enact legislation that will show that Virginia values the diversity and equality that companies like Amazon demand.  

Gaming Convention Threatens to Boycott Indianapolis

Indiana - home of special rights for Christofascists

The Republican controlled Indiana legislature has passed a license to discriminate law that would grant special rights to Christofascists in order to enable them to refuse service to or interaction with those who offend their religious beliefs. It is part and parcel with the larger agenda of the Republican Party to shamelessly prostitute itself to hate-filled, ignorance embracing, knuckle dragging "godly Christians" in order to (i) protect its elected officials from primary challenges and (ii) get the spittle flecked, Kool-Aid drinking set to turn out on election day.  The tawdriest of whores is virtuous compared to today's Republicans.  But the political prostitutes may be hitting the first of many downsides of their disgusting self-prostitution.  The Gen Con gaming convention has sent a letter to Indiana governor Mike Pence threatening to pull its convention from Indianapolis if Pence signs the legislation into law.  Here are excerpts from Gen Con's letter to Pence:

“Legislation that could allow for refusal of service or discrimination against our attendees will have a direct negative impact on the state's economy, and will factor into our decision-making on hosting the convention in the state of Indiana in future years. . . .Gen Con proudly welcomes a diverse attendee base, made up of different ethnicities, cultures, beliefs, sexual orientations, gender identities, abilities, and socio-economic backgrounds,” she wrote. “We are happy to provide an environment that welcomes all, and the wide-ranging diversity of our attendees has become a key element to the success and growth of our convention.”

We ask that you reconsider your support for SB 101.

Candidly, Pence is a nasty piece of work and he is likely to sign the bill.  If that happens, Gen Con needs to follow though on its threat and find a new location for its event.  Hopefully, other organizations will join suit and Indiana will pay a real financial price for its backwardness and bigotry.

P.S. For those in states that have enacted such laws, please read the language of the applicable statute carefully.  If the wording is broad enough, these laws need to be used to discriminate against far right Christians by citing "religious belief" - e.g., they are the modern day version of Biblical Pharisees and need to be shunned.  If (i) I lived in a state with such a law and (ii) I still had my own firm, nothing would give me more joy that showing a Chridstofascist to the door and telling them that they are unwanted.

Indianapolis Chamber Of Commerce Opposes Same-Sex Marriage Ban

This blog has long argued that state sponsored homophobia and bans on gay equality are bad for business.  And, as more states allow gay marriage, those that do not will find themselves in an increasingly uncompetitive position when it comes to recruiting new businesses and attracting entrepreneurs and the so-called "creative class."  Homophobia likewise makes regions of states less competitive than more gay friendly cities and counties - e.g., backward and homophobic Martinsville, Virginia, has once again been awarded the distinction of having the highest level of unemployment in Virginia.  Apparently, the Indianapolis Chamber of Commerces recognizes this reality and has come out against a move by Christofascists and Republicans to enact a constitutional amendment to Indiana's constitution to ban same sex marriage.  Think Progress reports the chamber's action.  Here are excerpts:

The Indy Chamber, Indianapolis’ business coalition, has come out in opposition to a proposed constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage in Indiana. According to John Thompson, chairman of the Chamber’s board, the amendment would deter talent from moving to the state:

THOMPSON: The Indy Chamber is in the business of strengthening our economy and attracting top talent to our region. The proposed marriage amendment does nothing to help show the nation that Indiana is a place that welcomes all, not just some, and we must be mindful of how actions such as this will impact our competitiveness on a national and global level.

In its press release, the Indy Chamber also noted that the amendment would be redundant because Indiana already bans same-sex marriage through state laws:

Indy Chamber leadership recognizes that the amendment would duplicate existing Indiana law, which already defines marriage between one man and one woman. The amendment is a distraction from building momentum in the state legislature to address economic and workforce development challenges in the Indianapolis region and across the state.

Read the full statement of opposition (via Chris Geidner at BuzzFeed).

Indiana’s legislature already voted once to approve the anti-gay amendment back in 2011. A second vote is required during the 2013–2014 legislative session before it can advance to a referendum, and the Republicans decided to delay that consideration until 2014. Gov. Mike Pence (R) also supports the amendment, and was even caught censoring pro-gay comments from his Facebook page back in June.

As seems to be the norm, religious extremism and hatred of others are the main hallmarks of today's Republican Party.

Indiana Anti-Gay Lawmaker Offers Teen Boy $80 for Sex

UPDATED: Not surprisingly, according to new reports from the Indianapolis Star, Hinkle appears to be receiving pressure from the GOP to resign:

"I strongly recommend that Representative Hinkle resign his position," said Marion County Republican Chairman Kyle Walker, "so that he can focus on his family and not have this situation detract from that or the work that needs to continue in his legislative district."

Andy Harris, Wayne Township trustee and former Wayne Township GOP chairman, said the people he has spoken to in Wayne Township are "just shocked and floored."

"It is not something they expected from Phil Hinkle," said Harris, who attends St. Christopher Catholic Church with him and considers him a friend. "But if found to be true, he definitely needs to step down. . . . There's no way I could support somebody running for an elected office doing that to their spouse and their family."

How many of those who are "shocked and floored" are still contributing to the Catholic Church? Hinkle's conduct is nothing compared to the criminal conspiracy that has unfolded under the Church hierarchy in covering up the sexual abuse of tens of thousands of children and youths.

ORIGINAL POST: Once again it seems those who are the most anti-gay in the public political lives are the ones actually out trolling for gay sex. As Bil Browning at Bilerico reports, the Indianapolis Star has "outed" Indiana Republican representative Phil Hinkle for offering a teenage boy $80 for sex after finding the young man on Craigslist. It's beyond hypocrisy and while many may disagree with me -as some of you have let me know in the past - I believe that every last one of these bastards needs to be exposed for the liars and hypocrites that they are in fact. They do untold damages to the lives of other LGBT citizens and, I'm sorry, I find it impossible to find even a tiny shred of sympathy for these people. It's one thing to be in the closet. It's something all together different to be in the closet and trolling for gay sex even as one is pushing legislation to harm other LGBT citizens. Here are highlights from the Star's coverage:

Emails shared with The Indianapolis Star suggest that state Rep. Phillip Hinkle -- responding to a local posting on Craigslist -- offered a young man $80 plus tip to spend time with him Saturday night at the JW Marriott hotel.

The emails, sent from Hinkle's publicly listed personal address, ask the young man for "a couple hours of your time tonight" and offer him cash up front, with a tip of up to $50 or $60 "for a really good time."

The email exchange is in response to the Craigslist posting in which the young man -- who lists his age as 20 in the ad but says he is 18 years old -- says, "I need a sugga daddy."

The young man told The Star that they met, but that he tried to leave after the man told him he was a state lawmaker. He said the lawmaker at first told him he could not leave, grabbed him in the rear, exposed himself to the young man and then later gave him an iPad, BlackBerry cellphone and $100 cash to keep quiet.

When contacted by The Star about the emails, Hinkle, a Republican who represents portions of Pike and Wayne townships, did not contest the emails but said, "I am aware of a shakedown taking place." Asked what he meant by shakedown, Hinkle would not elaborate. He directed further questions to his attorney.

The young man, Kameryn Gibson, told The Star he posted the Craigslist ad in the "Casual Encounters" section under m4m, which is shorthand for men for men. He used his adopted sister's email address.

Gibson said he and the man met but that they did not have sex. He and the sister, Megan Gibson, flatly denied any shakedown. "I wasn't shaking him down, at all," Kameryn Gibson said. Megan Gibson said she contacted The Star because she thought Hinkle's actions were "creepy" and, given his stature, that his actions should be made public.

Megan Gibson also provided the email exchange, which she forwarded to The Star. She also allowed a reporter to inspect the emails, which she had kept, on her smartphone. The phone contained not only the email exchange but a call log that showed phone calls from numbers that match both Hinkle's cellphone and home phone.

When Megan Gibson arrived to pick up her brother, she again threatened to call police and the local media. Kameryn and Megan Gibson said Hinkle then offered his iPad, a BlackBerry and $100 in cash.

Megan Gibson said that on the drive back, she began receiving a series of calls on the BlackBerry, including one from a woman who said she was Hinkle's wife. "I was like, 'Your husband is gay,' " Megan said. "And then she was like, 'You have the wrong person.' " Megan read her the email address: phinkle46 @comcast.net.
The line went silent. "Just for a couple seconds," Megan Gibson said, "and the first thing she said was, 'Please don't call the police.' " Phone messages left with Hinkle's wife late Thursday were not returned.

Assuming that Hinkle's wife did not know about her husband's hypocrisy and double life, then she does have my sympathy to some extent. The blame in that situation all lies with her husband. On the other hand, if she knew and did nothing to rein in his anti-gay voting agenda, then I'm sorry. She bears culpability as well.

LGBT Couple Found Murdered in Indianapolis

The Christianist continue to demonize LGBT citizens and simultaneously oppose hate crimes legislation disingenuously claiming that no such laws are needed to protect gays - even though religion (something unlike sexual orientation which can easily be changed) is typically a protected category in most hate crime statutes. Thus, they establish an atmosphere where gays are targeted and brutalized by those who think their religion justifies harming gays, yet want to keep "special" protections for themselves. Sadly it is all too typical of the un-Christian Christianists. To them, LGBT Americans are an inconvenience to be discarded like garbage. From a story reported at Bilerico Project by Bill Browning (another Blogger summit attendee) it appears that two more LGBT individuals have died as a result of a hate crime. Here are some story highlights:

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Two Indianapolis residents were killed over the holidays. While details aren't definite, it would appear one or both individuals were specifically targeted. If the double slaying is a hate crime, nothing will be done about it. Indiana doesn't have a hate crimes law; instead we have a "hate crimes reporting" law, but there is no recourse if police departments don't report to the state. The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department stopped documenting hate crimes years ago.

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Michael Hunt, 22, and Avery Elzy, 34, were found shot to death in "a bedroom." A dog in the room was also killed. While any murder is horrific, the IMPD's statements and news coverage of the homicide have been particularly heinous. Once again, Indianapolis is proving to the LGBT community that our city isn't sensitive to our concerns, lacks basic knowledge of our needs, and could absolutely care less.

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In a video released by the local NBC affiliate, Lt. Kevin Kelley can be seen stating "the two individuals did live an alternative lifestyle" at a press conference yesterday. I attempted to contact Lt. Kelley three different times today to ask for clarification of his "alternative lifestyle" comment, without response from anyone at IMPD.

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Instead, as is often the case in Indianapolis, all remote mentions of the LGBT community is silently being swept under the rug. When two elderly gay men were murdered earlier this year, police didn't identify the victims' sexuality and refused to discuss whether the double slaying was a hate crime. The media rewrote their posted stories - the two progressed from roommates, to a gay couple, and finally into a caregiver relationship (the correct relationship).

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With no motive released, a complete lack of understanding of LGBT issues, and a previous record of whitewashing LGBT concerns, is it any wonder some in our community are spinning their own nightmares?