Karen Celestino-Horseman: Indy Pride must support LGBTQ police officers

Recently, Indy Pride removed from its Facebook page a group photo that included a gentleman wearing a nonofficial T-shirt that read “Metropolitan Police Department.” Indy Pride announced it did this because the “photo hurt members of our community that are actively fighting against police brutality” and that Indy Pride “stand[s] with our community members against police brutality and apologize for allowing this message on our platforms.”

I have supported the LGBTQ community for many years through work as a lawyer and as an elected official. I believe in speaking out when a wrong has been committed and therefore I feel compelled to speak out now for my LGBTQ friends in uniform.

The mission of Indy Pride is to “achieve inclusivity, equality, strong community connections, and awareness of LGBTQ issues.” It was a group of lesbian police officers who fought for same-sex marriage in Indiana and a lesbian police officer who fought to force Indiana to list same-sex parents on the birth certificate of a child born to the marriage of two women. In both cases, they took their fight all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court.

These officers in the marriage case were not allowed to wear their uniforms to any event related to the case and for many, many years, law enforcement officers were not allowed to wear their uniforms to Gay Pride events unless they were working. Those were the policies then.

Fast forward to today, following years of work to change those policies, the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department is now sending out tweets celebrating Pride month with the hash tag #policingwithpride. The acceptance of LGBTQ members among the rank and file is at its highest ever. But now it is Indy Pride that has turned the tables on the LGBTQ officers who fought so hard for change.

I condemn any law enforcement officer who engages in brutality and abuses his/her power. But it is also wrong to stereotype and generalize all law enforcement officers for the actions of a small minority of bad apples. The LGBTQ community has strenuously fought long and hard against stereotyping and yet it now is condoning stereotyping of law enforcement officers.

I can tell you that none of the officers in the aforementioned lawsuits have ever been accused of brutality or abuse of power. To be painted with this stain by their own community is reprehensible. One of the officers received multiple commendations for acts of bravery, including literally running into a burning building to save lives. She should be celebrated, not ostracized.

As a not-for-profit organization, Indy Pride is obligated to fulfill its mission to the best of its ability. It is an excellent mission but unfortunately, its mission now appears to be narrowed to that which is politically convenient. Will Latino members of the LGBTQ community be excluded because some are not here legally? Will LGBTQ doctors who perform abortions be excluded because some find that offensive? Will LGBTQ members who object to being vaccinated against COVID be excluded because that is offensive to others?

Having served with many not-for-profit organizations, I can tell you that the mission statement is the holy grail and sometimes, in the quest to carry it out, an organization can find itself in an uncomfortable position. But it either believes in its mission or it does not. Come on Indy Pride, you can resolve this without exclusion just as you have resolved tough issues before. Show other organizations how it is done.•

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Celestino-Horseman is an Indianapolis attorney. Send comments to ibjedit@ibj.com.

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