Indianapolis Elects Four Openly Queer Council Members

Indiana voters just quadrupled the number of LGBTQ members of the Indianapolis City-County Council.

Voters elected out candidates Alison Brown, Ethan Evans, and Keith Potts to the body, also reelecting Zach Adamson, according to local TV station WTHR. They represented a record number of LGBTQ candidates, reports another station, WRTV.

Brown, who identifies as queer, becomes the first woman from the LGBTQ community to serve on the council.

The LGBTQ Victory Fund made note of election so many queer candidates in a city that just three years ago served as Vice President Mike Pence's home base when he was governor of Indiana.

"A rainbow wave came crashing into Mike Pence's backyard Tuesday night, with voters sending three openly LGBTQ candidates to the Indianapolis City-County Council," said Annise Parker, president and CEO of LGBTQ Victory Fund.

"While LGBTQ people continue to be severely underrepresented in the state, these victories will inspire more LGBTQ Hoosiers to consider a run for office and make change in a state that lags much of the country in LGBTQ protections." Parker made particular note of Brown.

The organization noted Indiana previously had only nine out officials statewide. The highest-ranking of those remains Pete Buttigieg, whose term as mayor of South Bend ends in January. Buttigieg is running for the Democratic presidential nomination, and his history-making bid continues to show a different side of Indiana than Pence represents.

Josh Owens, an out Democratic candidate, is running for governor in the next election cycle.

The election of four LGBTQ candidates in Indianapolis came as Democrats won a supermajority on that council for the first time. All four out candidates are Democrats.