Wednesday, November 02, 2005

HRC President To Appear In Indianapolis, But Not At the Rathskellar

Joe Solmonese, President of the D.C. based Human Rights Campaign, will appear in Indianapolis for a meet and greet this Sunday, November 6, 2005, from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., at Agio's Restaurant at 635 Massachusetts Avenue. There is no charge for admission.

Local HRC organizers originally scheduled Solmonese's appearance at the Rathskellar. That provoked an outcry from the Indianapolis Rainbow Chamber of Commerce, Indiana Equality and other local GLBT organizations, who protested the decision to HRC. The Indianapolis GLBT community is still upset at the Rathskellar for allowing House Speaker Brian Bosma to host a fundraiser there this past June. There have also been recent reports that State Senator Pat Miller also intends to host a fundraiser at the Rathskellar.

While the political committees for these candidates are required to pay for the use of the Rathskellar's facilities and the food and drink consumed, local gay rights activists believe that the Rathskellar's management should deny the use of the facilities to candidates who espouse anti-gay views as do Bosma and Miller, particularly since the business is located along Massachusetts Avenue in the heart of Indy's gay community.

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