The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Indiana is suing Indiana State University (ISU) for preventing Pride Fest 2025 from taking place on campus.
The ACLU of Indiana filed a suit in the U.S. District Court on Feb. 11 on behalf of The Pride Center of Terre Haute. The complaint alleges ISU is violating The Pride Center’s first amendment right by barring their annual pride festival from taking place on campus in August.
“ISU’s failure to provide Pride Fest an on-campus location is directly related to the message of inclusivity, equality and support conveyed by all Pride festivals,” Ken Falk, legal director of the ACLU of Indiana, said in a statement. “It is clear that the university is censoring Pride Fest because of its support of the LGBTQ+ community. The Pride Center has a First Amendment right to hold their festival in the Indiana State University Quad — a space explicitly designated as a place for free expression.”
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The Pride Center is a nonprofit organization dedicated to positively impacting LGBTQ+ individuals in and around Vigo County. The organization previously held its Pride Fest on ISU campus in 2023 and 2024 with no issue, according to a press release. Past festivals were even sponsored by the university and took place in the campus quad, an open area explicitly designated for “expressive activity” as stated by both ISU policies and Indiana law.
“This is part of a recent pattern of ISU preventing or discouraging actions and events that are intended to support the LGBTQ+ community,” the complaint states. “The actions of ISU in not allowing Pride Fest 2025 to occur on campus violates the First Amendment to the United States Constitution.”
ISU secured an agreement from the City of Terre Haute, without The Pride Center’s knowledge, to hold Pride Fest 2025 at a city park off-campus. In the complaint, The Pride Center states hosting the event on-campus is “essential to the purpose of the festival” as it demonstrates ISU is a welcoming campus for new students.
The full complaint can be found here: aclu-in.org/sites/default/files/isu_complaint.pdf.
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.
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