our story, mission, vision, & some volunteers

Equality Indiana was founded in 2023 to address a growing gap in statewide advocacy, civic engagement, and education for LGBTQIA+ Hoosiers—and to help ensure Indiana's tradition of Hoosier hospitality extends to everyone.

Indiana still lacks comprehensive statewide nondiscrimination protections based on sexual orientation and gender identity. At the same time, LGBTQIA+ Hoosiers, particularly transgender youth and adults, continue to face laws and policies that create uncertainty, fear, and barriers to full participation in community life.

Equality Indiana was created to do more than respond to individual pieces of legislation. We educate communities, build relationships with policymakers, mobilize volunteers, and empower LGBTQIA+ Hoosiers and their allies to help shape Indiana's future. 

Our mission is to secure inclusive legal protections for all LGBTQIA+ Hoosiers by educating, empowering, and mobilizing civic participation.

As one of Indiana's few statewide organizations dedicated exclusively to LGBTQIA+ equality, Equality Indiana serves as a trusted convener, educator, and advocate. Our work connects policy advocacy with nonpartisan civic engagement.

We advocate for policies that advance equality while strengthening voter registration, voter education, and civic participation so LGBTQIA+ Hoosiers and allied communities can participate as informed and empowered voters.

We believe communities experiencing discrimination deserve more than protection—they deserve meaningful opportunities to shape the decisions that affect their lives. By expanding access to trusted information, increasing civic participation, and developing community leaders, we help ensure LGBTQIA+ Hoosiers have the tools to advocate for themselves, their families, and their communities.

 Our work reaches LGBTQIA+ Hoosiers across Indiana, with particular attention to transgender and nonbinary people, LGBTQIA+ youth, rural residents, and others who experience disproportionate barriers to safety, representation, and civic participation. We also engage parents, families, students, allies, businesses, faith communities, and nonprofit partners who share our vision.

Through this work, we are building a statewide network of informed volunteers, community leaders, and advocates who can continue advancing equality in their own communities.