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Businesses Launch 'Indiana Competes' To Push For LGBT Protections

Indiana Competes
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More than 150 businesses from around the state are joining forces to advocate for LGBT rights this coming legislative session. 

Indiana Competes announced its formation less than a month ago and since then, the group has collected pledges from some of Indiana’s biggest names – Eli Lilly, Cummins, Anthem, AT&T, and Salesforce.  Salesforce Marketing Cloud CEO Scott McCorkle says the Hoosier State’s future success depends on attracting the best possible workforce.

“We can’t recruit the best talent if our current or potential employees feel unwelcomed or are concerned about facing discrimination,” McCorkle says.

Eli Lilly Vice President Steve Fry says despite Governor Mike Pence’s unwillingness so far to publicly declare his stance on the issue, he says he has confidence in Pence and the General Assembly.

“I think there is a strong desire for the legislature and the government to partner with businesses and the community to make sure that we find a path forward here,” Fry says.

Fry says he’s encouraged that Senate Republicans already developed and unveiled a legislative proposal for LGBT rights -- though he declined to comment on the specifics of the bill and what he’d like to see changed. 

Brandon Smith is excited to be working for public radio in Indiana. He has previously worked in public radio as a reporter and anchor in mid-Missouri for KBIA Radio out of Columbia. Prior to that, he worked for WSPY Radio in Plano, Illinois as a show host, reporter, producer and anchor. His first job in radio was in another state capitol, in Jefferson City, Missouri, as a reporter for three radio stations around Missouri. Brandon graduated from the University of Missouri-Columbia with a Bachelor of Journalism in 2010, with minors in political science and history. He was born and raised in Chicago.
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