<p>Only July 11th DignityUSA teamed up with GLAAD Shellys Voice PFLAG the Ariadne Getty Foundation and many more to host the<strong> Rally For Equality</strong> in Ind<span style=background-color: transparent;>ianapolis. Our caravan of vehicles circled the headquarters of the Archdiocese of Indianapolis dem</span><span style=background-color: transparent;>onstrating against a new policy that Archbishop Thompson secretly implemented that will ban transgender and gender non-conforming students from enrolling in more than 60 Indiana schools and severely discriminate against transgender students already enrolled.</span></p><p>We couldnt stay silent when we heard the news of this policy. We issued a <a href=https://www.dignityusa.org/news/lgbtqi-catholic-group-denounces-%E2%80%9Cunspeakably-cruel%E2%80%9D-ban-transgender-students-indianapolis>statement </a>condemning the policy and spoke out on key news outlets letting the Indianapolis community know about this injustice. Last week we obtained a copy of Archdioceses policy document which they have tried to keep secret and <a href=https://www.dignityusa.org/news/policy-transgendergender-non-conforming-students-archdiocese-indianapolis-doesn%E2%80%99t-want-you-see>released </a>it for the public.</p><p>Our movement is already making a splash<span style=background-color: transparent;>. Local and national news organizations like the </span><a href=https://www.indystar.com/picture-gallery/news/local/indianapolis/2020/07/11/2020-rally-equality-caravan-held-support-trans-student-rights/5421942002/>IndyStar</a><span style=background-color: transparent;></span><a href=https://www.advocate.com/religion/2020/6/26/catholic-archdiocese-tells-schools-reject-openly-trans-students> the Advocate</a><span style=background-color: transparent;> </span><a href=https://indianapublicmedia.org/news/archdiocese-of-indianapolis-school-policy-barring-transgender-students-prompts-pushback.php>Indiana Public Media</a><span style=background-color: transparent;> </span><a href=https://www.wfyi.org/news/articles/demonstrators-rally-to-support-transgender-catholic-students-protest-archdiocese>WFYI</a><span style=background-color: transparent;> </span><a href=https://fox59.com/news/new-policy-may-exclude-transgender-students-from-60-plus-catholic-schools-in-indiana/>Fox59</a><span style=background-color: transparent;>&nbsp;and many more&nbsp;have covered the mounting opposition to this move. </span><strong style=background-color: transparent;>Pressure on the Archdiocese is growing.</strong></p><p><strong>You can join us.</strong> Our coalition launched a letter-signing campaign expressing our disapproval of this new policy to key local and national Catholic officials. Were asking our friends and allies to stand with us and add their name to the letter and call for a more inclusive and just Church. <strong> <a href=https://www.dignityusa.org/civicrm/petition/sign?sid=9&amp;reset=1>Already hundreds of people of joined the movement and are taking a stand for justice and inclusion. You can join them: Sign Here.</a>&nbsp;</strong></p><p><a href=https://www.dignityusa.org/civicrm/petition/sign?sid=9&amp;reset=1><img src='https://www.dignityusa.org/sites/default/files/sign_the_letter_3.png'></a></p><p>The Rally For Equality was a roaring success. Our caravan took to the streets with flags and signs that communicated a simple message to Archbishop Thompson: end these attacks on transgender students. Meanwhile DignityUSAs Vice President Meli Barber spoke alongside other local activists outlining the injustice of the Archdioceses new policy and equipping the community to respond. Thousands of folks joined the protest on Facebook Live. You can watch the Rally For Equality<strong><a href=https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=208633350405272>&nbsp;here.</a></strong></p><p></p><p></p><p>Photo Credit: Michelle Pemberton/IndyStar</p>