Months ago, when Indiana faced national controversy over passage of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act because of its implications for anti-LGBT discrimination, Indy Pride requested a letter from Gov. Mike Pence (R) inviting visitors to the capital city for June’s Pride Month celebrations. These welcome letters from elected officials are a tradition for all kinds of events in cities across the country, including LGBT Pride festivals. This week, Pence delivered the letter, but there was something noticeably missing.
As Bil Browning points out, nowhere in the letter does Pence actually identify LGBT people or any of the words that describe them (gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, sexual orientation, gender identity, etc.). Instead, the letter seems targeted entirely to “those of you who traveled from out of state” for Indianapolis’ Pride celebrations, lauding the city’s tourist attractions (“our museums, restaurants, theaters, historic landmarks, White River State Park, and the Indianapolis Zoo, just to name a few”).
Despite acknowledging the missing welcome to LGBT people, Indy Pride president Chris Morehead said the organization was grateful for the letter. “What better way to show that Indiana is open for business and not targeting certain groups,” he told The Indianapolis Star, “than for the Governor of Indiana to put out the welcome mat to these visitors.”
But Pence’s ambiguity in the letter is likely not accidental. On Facebook, Indy Pride shared the letter they received ten years ago from Gov. Mitch Daniels, a fellow Republican and opponent of marriage equality for same-sex couples, to show the contrast. In his letter, Daniels not only specified that he was welcoming people “for Pride” — another word Pence avoided except in Indy Pride’s name — but he expounded, “This celebration seeks to foster understanding and acceptance of individuals without regard to gender, gender identity, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or any of the differences that too often divide us, in a state that urgently needs to confront its challenges with unity of purpose. The growth of the festival over the years shows the impact of such efforts. …May today’s event continue to build bridges among our people and a spirit of fellowship among all who attend.”
Indiana Superintendent of Public Instruction Glenda Ritz, who is expected to announce as a Democratic gubernatorial candidate this week, sent her own welcome letter to Indy Pride. Boasting her own participation in this year’s festival, she offered her hope that “the coming year is a full Equality year!”
Though Morehead requested Pence’s letter months ago, he had actually heard nothing as of this week. It wasn’t until Tuesday, when the Indianapolis Star called to ask whether he intended to respond to Indy Pride’s request, that (hours later) the governor’s office confirmed it had drafted the letter.
During the damage control over Indiana’s RFRA, Pence claimed to oppose all forms of discrimination, but he has a long history of opposing nondiscrimination protections for the LGBT community.