Carmel reader disappointed with his state legislators

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Dear Editor:

I’m writing to express my disappointment with our Republican state legislators who represent Carmel (Danny Lopez, Hunter Smith, and Scott Baldwin) for their refusal to condemn Lt. Gov. Beckwith’s hateful rhetoric towards my neighbors in the Islamic community and Gov. Braun’s declaration of Nuclear Family Month.

Carmel is a diverse community, which is part of what makes it an attractive place to live. As such, we have many members of the Muslim and LGBTQ+ communities who call Carmel home. With our legislators’ silence on these attacks against our neighbors, they have failed their most important duty as elected officials: standing up for their constituents. This behavior is dangerous.

Beckwith’s comments encourage Hoosiers to hate and dehumanize members of our community, only adding to anti-Muslim sentiment across the country.

Gov. Braun’s proclamation of June as Nuclear Family Month encourages unnecessary division while arguing that LGBTQ+ families and single-parent households, like the one I grew up in, are somehow unworthy of recognition or respect.

Indiana is not a hateful state. Our elected leaders should explicitly reject their peers’ inflammatory language, stand up for their constituents, and choose courage over capitulation. Our local Republican legislators, by remaining quiet, empower their party to further divide and marginalize instead of addressing the real issues facing Hoosiers.

We deserve better.

William Clontz
Marine Corps Veteran
Carmel