Thinking about moving to Indiana? If so, Indianapolis may be on your list of potential destinations. There are a number of gay and lesbian real estate agents in the city, and they can tell you all about the capital of the state. It’s the second largest city in the Midwest, for example, so you know you won’t be alone in the LGBT community. The city’s residents are about as diverse as their economy, which includes major corporations in areas such as transportation, business, education, health, government, leisure, and manufacturing. Of course, the city is also known as the home of the Indianapolis 500, the world’s largest single-day sporting event.
LGBT Rights
Indianapolis is one of the areas in Indiana that offers more protection for its LGBT citizens. Marion County, which the city is a part of, does have its own laws prohibiting discrimination in employment on the basis of both orientation and gender identity. Government employment at the state level is protected statewide thanks to a 2005 gubernatorial order.
Unfortunately, Indiana Senate Bill 101 went into effect in March of 2015. This law allows businesses to use as a legal defense that their right to practice their religion is substantially burdened by serving LGBT customers. The mayor of Indianapolis has come out against the bill, stating that he wants everyone who lives in the city to feel welcome no matter what their orientation or gender identity is.
Domestic Partnerships
Prior to the legalization of same-sex marriage, Indianapolis was one of the few cities in the state to offer domestic partnerships for anyone who lived in the city. The registry was established at the beginning of 2013.
Gay Neighborhoods
There are a couple of gayborhoods in Indianapolis. The downtown area is full of LGBT-owned businesses, plus a number of gays and lesbians live in the downtown condos, apartments, and homes. It’s considered a fairly artsy area, too. You’ll find historic homes here as well as an area that, even with its high traffic, is also very safe.
Another LGBT community is Whitaker Valley Estates. This is a newer area that was built around 2008. It wasn’t planned as a gay community at all, but some of the first people to move into Whitaker Valley Estates were LGBT couples. They spread the word about the area, and soon it was a full gay ghetto. Those looking for new homes with all of the amenities will love this part of Indianapolis, but it’s not as cheap as some other parts of the city.