By LAUREN SCHREGARDUS
Director of Client Services, BAR Communications

INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana Competes, a coalition of more than 350 Indiana businesses and business-related organizations, delivered a letter today, Tuesday, Jan. 5, to all 150 members of the Indiana General Assembly calling for lawmakers to amend the state’s civil rights code to prohibit discrimination of any kind.

The coalition also shared results from a recent poll that showed that more than 62 percent of those surveyed support making it illegal in Indiana to discriminate against lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender people.

“It’s up to our legislators to take action to show the world that discrimination will not be tolerated in our state because our economic reputation is at stake,” said Doug Dayhoff, president of Upland Brewing. “It is currently legal to discriminate in Indiana, and that is wrong. We need our lawmakers to show leadership to make sure our economy is not damaged any further.”

The poll, conducted in December by Bellweather Research, is the most recent to show overwhelming support for the state to ban discrimination against LGBT people.

Summary of polling results:

• 73 percent of those surveyed believe that Indiana state law already makes it illegal to discriminate against an LGBT person in the area of employment, housing and public accommodations.
• 62 percent of those surveyed support making it illegal in Indiana to discriminate against LGBT people.
• 47 percent of those surveyed said they would be less likely to vote for a legislator if he/she voted against protecting LGBT people from discrimination.
• 69 percent of those surveyed indicated they had a family member, close friend or both who is gay or lesbian.

“When businesses can’t recruit and retain top talent to our state because of a fear those individuals may be legally discriminated against, our economy suffers,” said Michael Huber, CEO of the Indy Chamber. “Banning discrimination of any kind is not only the right thing to do, it makes economic sense. Making certain that everyone in Indiana has equal rights is another tool in our toolbox to help attract top businesses and investment.”

Indiana Competes officially launched last month and includes many of Indiana’s largest employers in addition to small businesses across the state. Indiana does not have a statewide law that ensures legal equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals in housing, employment and other public accommodations. While many municipalities have passed local ordinances offering protections for sexual orientation and gender identity, Hoosier businesses recognize that a statewide measure is crucial to growing Indiana’s economy.

The Indiana Competes business pledge and a full list of Hoosier businesses that have signed the pledge can be found here. The complete letter to lawmakers from the members of Indiana Competes and the poll results and analysis is contained in the attached document.