INDIANAPOLIS – The Indiana Democratic Party, the organization that advocates for the future of Indiana and its families, today issued the following statement from Chairman Mike Schmuhl calling on Governor Eric Holcomb to veto House Bill 1041, which would target and bully innocent minors who wish to play the sports they enjoy with their friends.
The Indiana High School Athletic Association confirmed there are no current cases pending involving unfair advantages in school sports:
“The moment the Indiana High School Athletic Association admitted there was no unfair advantage occurring in women’s sports, it became clear House Bill 1041 was more about fulfilling a made-up culture war than actually creating a better future for Hoosier children. Indiana Republicans even admitted their goal was more about abiding by national politics than solving today’s problems facing kids – and it’s why they partnered with a national hate group to pass House Bill 1041.
The 2022 legislative session will be remembered as the time when elected Republicans used the power of their offices to bully innocent minors who simply want to play the sports they enjoy with their friends. Unfortunately, House Bill 1041 will set a dark precedent for children that being transgender means something is wrong with them. It must be said that nothing is wrong and being transgender is exactly how God created you and is exactly who you are born to be. Indiana Democrats value the state’s transgender community, and they have a place in our state and future just as everyone else.
It’s become quite clear the Indiana GOP is now the Culture War Party that views misinformation and conspiracy theories as to their guiding lights. This agenda is divisive, will prevent good jobs from entering the state, and it simply has no place in Indiana. Governor Eric Holcomb should not make the mistake Mike Pence made in 2015 with the Religious Freedom Restoration Act. The Indiana Democratic Party asks Holcomb to veto this legislation the moment it hits his desk.”
