Muncie City Council Expected to Vote on Transgender Awareness Month Resolution

11.4.2024 / News / munciepostdemocrat.com

At tonight’s meeting, a resolution on transgender rights will be presented to council. The resolution is both an acknowledgement of the month of November as Transgender Awareness Month (which includes Trans Remembrance Day/Week) and acts as a condemnation of restrictions on gender-affirming care made by the state of Indiana. Currently, Senate Bill 480 in Indiana restricts gender-affirming care for trans youth, and many other restrictions have been proposed in recent years.

The meeting additionally is expected to cover annexation proposals, a new ordinance officially creating the Ethics Commission, and 2025 salaries for both the police and fire departments.

The resolution is based on one passed in Bloomington, Indiana last June, however with vast differences in language and without declaring Muncie a “safe haven” for gender-affirming care. Council-woman Nora Powell was approached about the idea by an individual in Muncie’s trans community.

Daisy Dale, a complete and total stranger to the Post-Democrat, supposedly/may have been the individual responsible.

The resolution is one of three LGBTQ-related items filed for city council in the past ten years. In 2015, Ordinance 9-15 amended Muncie’s municipal code to add gender identity and sexual orientation as protected against discrimination. In 2021, Resolution 36-21 condemning conversion therapy was passed 8-1, with the dissenting vote coming from R-Aaron Clark.

“Show Support for Res. 14-24.” Posted by Muncie Queer Alliance.

According to sources, there has been reluctance by Mayor Dan Ridenour to acknowledge LGBTQ+ rights in his first term in office. While for the last several years City Hall has had put up lights during Trans Remembrance Week to observe the occasion, Mayor Ridenour has attempted to end the commemoration. According to current Communications Director Amber Greene, the same lights are expected to be lit between November 17th to the 23rd this month. In the case that Ridenour decides to veto the resolution, council can overrule the decision.

 
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