The International Center and former Mayor Greg Ballard are teaming up again to host the second annual Loving Day Celebration in Indianapolis.
Named for the landmark 1967 Supreme Court decision in Loving v. Virginia, which struck down all remaining state laws banning interracial marriage, Loving Day is honored annually on June 12. This year, the International Center is returning to Gainbridge Fieldhouse to host the second annual Loving Day Celebration from 1-3 p.m. on June 7.
“This is an extraordinary event full of camaraderie, joy, and overwhelming love,” Ballard said in a statement. “It brings people together to honor not only a pivotal moment in our nation’s history, but the enduring power of love across all boundaries.”
To evade anti-miscegenation laws in their home state of Virginia in 1958, Richard Loving, white, and Mildred Jeter, Black, got married in Washington D.C. However, upon returning, the couple was arrested and sentenced to a year in prison — suspended on the condition they leave the state for 25 years.
The Lovings were determined to return to their home and instead chose to challenge the law. As a result, their case reached the U.S. Supreme Court. On June 12, 1967, the Supreme Court unanimously ruled state bans on interracial marriage were unconstitutional and violated the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment, setting “a foundational precedent for marriage equality and civil rights across the country,” according to a press release.
The previous year’s celebration saw more than 100 guests, including Ben and CaSondra Shim, who said, “One of the things that makes this country great is being united as Americans. Our marriage is a blessing from God — regardless of culture, we’re united and building a new one together.”
Attendees are invited to enjoy international cuisine, live music and Motown-inspired dance floor in addition to family-friendly activities and shop from vendors, such as Chapital Photography, Frida’s Flowers, Latinas Welding Guild and Vida Events & Décor.
RECORDER REWIND: Indianapolis to host its first Loving Day Celebration
Honoring the landmark decision, the Indianapolis Loving Day Celebration will also include video vignettes spotlighting three local couples whose lives “reflect the spirit of the Loving decision.” Couples in attendance can also renew their vows in a ceremony officiated by Ballard.
“This event is about more than the past,” Kristie Johnson, the International Center’s VP of development and external affairs, said in a statement. “It’s about celebrating love in all its forms and affirming the right to create a future rooted in unity, acceptance and understanding.”
The Loving Day Celebration is sponsored by Pacers Sports & Entertainment, the Indianapolis Colts and the Central Indiana Community Foundation (CICF). Tickets are $10 for adults and free for children under 18. For more information, visit internationalcenter.org.
Contact Arts & Culture Reporter Chloe McGowan at 317-762-7848. Follow her on X @chloe_mcgowanxx.
Chloe McGowan is the Arts & Culture Reporter for the Indianapolis Recorder Newspaper. Originally from Columbus, OH, Chloe graduated with a degree in journalism from The Ohio State University. She is a former IndyStar Pulliam Fellow, and her previous work includes freelancing for Indy Maven, Assistant Arts & Life Editor for The Lantern, and editorial assistant at CityScene Media Group. Chloe enjoys covering all things arts and culture — from local music, visual art, dance, theater and film, as well as minority-owned businesses. In her free time, Chloe enjoys reading, cooking and keeping her plants alive.
