Mother Forming LGBTQ Group In Dearborn County

By Mike Perleberg Bright resident Shelly Snyder poses with her transgender daughter, Gwyneth. Photo provided. (Dearborn County, Ind.) – An LGBTQ pride group in its infancy wants to change attitudes in Dearborn County. The Dearborn Pride Alliance started as a Facebook page a few years ago. Now, page administrator Shelly Snyder is working to bring people together face-to-face for a common cause. “LGBTQ people don’t want extra rights. They simply want equal rights,” says Snyder. Snyder says she’s a Christian. She’s not homosexual. However, the mother of four has a transgender daughter. She knew in the years raising a son that he seemed uncomfortable in his own skin. As social attitudes have evolved and more people are coming out, three years he transitioned and became Gwyneth. “I saw all the struggles and walls my daughter was going up against. It was horrible. When she changed, it finally made sense,” shares Snyder. Snyder plans to host the Dearborn Pride Alliance’s first LGBTQIA Meet and Greet on Saturday, February 18 at her home in Bright. Attendees can learn more on the group's Facebook page. She’s unsure how many people might actually show up. The group is non-partisan and welcomes people from any county in the region. This may be one of the first organized LGBTQ-rights groups to ever openly organize in southeastern Indiana. “Dearborn County is a wonderful place to live, but sometimes we live in bubbles. We have an issue of LGBTQ’s not always being accepted. I think there is a lot of shame,” Snyder says. Snyder is opposed to Indiana’s 2015 Religious Freedom Restoration Act which she believes gives people the right to discriminate against gays and lesbians. Indiana is one of 30 states where sexual orientation and gender identity discrimination is not prohibited by law. The attendees will discuss possible future Dearborn Pride Alliance activities, including a pride parade, advocating for equality legislation, and writing to local lawmakers. Snyder shares they may ask the Sunman-Dearborn Community Schools Board of Trustees to allow for an LGBTQ student group to be formed at East Central High School. “We’re just getting started,” she says. Snyder hopes other parents of LGBTQ children won’t be afraid for their children’s futures, being bullied, or not being accepted for who they are.