How a "reluctant activist" got involved in gay Indiana in the quest for gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender equality in a red state.
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By Jon R. Keep | Contact
Jon Keep was elected President of the board of Indiana Equality in December 2006 and was re-elected in Dec 2007.
Jon is a Worldwide Program Director with IBM's Software Group and lives in Indianapolis.
He has been involved with EAGLE, a Diversity Networking Group for GLBT IBMers, and has also been co-chair of IBM's Central Region Diversity Council.
Jon was a founding officer of the Indy Rainbow Chamber of Commerce serving as Chairman for 3 years. He continues to be on the board and represents the Chamber on the board of Indiana Equality.
Jon is also on the board of the Indiana Equality Education Fund.
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Many years ago, back in my mid-20's, I was fortunate to start a spiritual journey that I am still on today. I was lucky this included coming to grips with my sexuality. I knew that the only way that I could change as a person, I had to ‘come out' and admit that I was a gay man. It wasn't immediate, it was over a period of two years. As a result, I am comfortable with who I am, have wonderful friends and a family that is supportive. Don't get me wrong, my journey, also, was painful but healing, getting me where I am today.
Over the years, I have led a great life. A good job, great friends, traveled all over the world, and pretty much do what I want, when I want to do it without much repercussion. But then there came a time where the voices of hate kept attacking the GLBT community and I started to really notice . Some of these voices came from people of faith. I was a person of faith, how could they call me and my community ‘perverted', ‘evil', ‘pedophiles' and ‘cross-dressers' when we were not? Our lawmakers found they had political capital if they made us the bad person...because after all, we were perverted, evil, etc. The people of faith found that they could raise money for their ministries if they embellished the truth about our community.
I reacted, initially, by supporting financially progressive groups that were supportive of the GLBT community. From there, I hosted house parties to raise money for progressive causes. But over time it felt like this wasn't enough. I wasn't an activist. Marching in parades with signs wasn't my thing. But, yet, I couldn't keep quiet. I then came out at work offering myself as a resource to management on GLBT issues. The company was very supportive, wanting me to be involved in diversity issues.
But, yet, this wasn't enough.
FOUNDING THE INDIANA GLBT CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
I was approached by a friend of mine to be a founder of a GLBT Chamber of Commerce that would serve the metro area, because it was felt that the health of GLBT and our allies' business organizations is essential to the health of the city's economy as a whole. A voice would be required to serve and promote our interest in the city's economic and cultural development. Giving it some thought, I agreed. After months of planning, the Indy Rainbow Chamber of Commerce was established and I was elected the Board Chair.
INDIANA EQUALITY AS A COALITION
During this time a group of GLBT leaders came together to form a coalition of statewide and local organizations to collectively work on getting sexual orientation and gender identity in the state's civil rights code. In 2003, Indiana Equality (IE) was established and the Indy Rainbow Chamber of Commerce was part of the coalition. I was chosen an ‘alternate' board member to represent the Chamber.
After a few years, I was chosen to be the board member representing the Chamber. The issue of marriage came before the legislature and an amendment to our constitution was being talked about. All of a sudden, Indiana Equality had to address the issue, derailing us from our major goal of civil rights protections. During this time I had the pleasure of learning a lot from several people involved with IE concerning political strategy. Indiana is a ‘red state', but I think unique in Hoosiers are basically fair minded people. To get anything accomplished you need to work both sides of the political aisle. You need to learn how to approach legislators, what motivates them, network with other lobbyists, other progressive groups and the press.
I was approached in 2006 to be the President of Indiana Equality. I immediately said "No" because I am not a political person. But after thinking about it, I realized that I was the right person at the right time. In December of 2005, I was elected to the position and re-elected again in December, 2007.
INDIANA EQUALITY: SMALL BUDGET, GREAT SUCCESS
Indiana Equality has been one of the most effective state LGBT organizations in the United States. With a very small budget ($69,000 total in 2007), very dedicated volunteers and part-time lobbying support, the group has successfully turned back attempts to amend the Indiana Constitution to ban same-sex marriage. It continues to work with and support LGBT-supportive elected officials of both parties at every level, and the coalition (through its members and volunteers) have been instrumental in bringing basic LGBT human rights protections to many municipalities across Indiana, including the capitol city of Indianapolis in 2006.
IE has, also, made much progress on eventual passage of bias crimes legislation - one of only five states that do not have these important protections in place.
We are hosting a forum with the three candidates running in a special election for one of our Congressional Districts. All three candidates from the three different parties are GLBT supportive.
Often we are discounted by many because we are in a mid-America, red state. But don't let our location overshadow our tenacity, bi-partisan political strategy, and a will to win.
So today, I am still on my journey. I term myself the ‘reluctant activist'. And, now I march in parades.
