ACLU of Indiana

In Elkhart, a protest is planned for 10:00 a.m. to noon at the Civic Plaza. In South Bend, the Michiana Alliance for Democracy is planning a rally at 1:00 p.m. at Jon Hunt Memorial Plaza. Protests are also planned in Goshen, Niles, LaPorte and Nappanee, among other locations.

The ACLU is suing the state to strike down a new law banning prison inmates from receiving gender-affirming surgery.

Attorneys from the state and the ACLU of Indiana presented arguments before a federal judge Wednesday on Indiana’s gender-affirming care ban for transgender youth. The arguments largely focused on what clinical evidence does — and doesn’t — show in the treatment of gender dysphoria.

Court documents said the act’s lack of definitions about “human sexuality” and “instruction” mean teachers don’t know what they can and can’t teach.

Their legal arguments rest on constitutional violations and equal protections for transgender Americans.

Indiana lawmakers have filed a historic number of anti-LGBTQ+ bills this session. Advocates are raising concerns about what they’re calling a “slate of hate” targeting gender-affirming care bans for transgender youth, limits on classroom conversations and identification laws.

Transgender people would be banned from getting gender-affirming surgery while they’re in state prisons under legislation approved by a House committee Wednesday.

A state lawmaker wants to require public schools to reveal certain details of how children express their gender identity and orientation in the classroom. SB 354, authored by Sen. Jeff Raatz (R-Richmond), would make teachers tell parents if a student expresses changes in certain aspects of their name, attire or pronouns.

Hoosiers gathered at the Statehouse Monday to protest bills targeting LGBTQ+ youth. None of the nearly two dozen bills identified have received hearings yet – but activists are worried.

Hoosiers would have a lot more control over the data companies keep on them under legislation unanimously approved by a Senate committee Thursday.