INDIANAPOLIS — It's still up in the air as to whether the man challenging Mayor Joe Hogsett will march in this weekend's Pride Parade.
Republican Jim Merritt said he plans to march in the parade as a private citizen. However, it appears the Indy Pride organization is signaling the state lawmaker and mayoral candidate is still not welcome.
This began over the weekend with a report in Adam Wren's political newsletter "IMPORTANTVILLE" saying Merritt would be in the parade.
Indy Pride then announced that Merritt was not invited due to his legislative votes against same-sex marriage and for the Religious Freedom Restoration Act.
Merritt released a statement saying that Indy Pride approved his plan to walk in the parade as a private citizen and not as a candidate for mayor.
Indy Pride released another statement Wednesday saying that, "If a group choose to invite Jim Merritt to walk with them, that is their choice." Indy Pride also said allies walking in the parade implicitly express support for marriage equality and other issues close to the LGBTQ community.
The group said, "If Jim Merritt walks as planned, it is our hope that he expresses his change in beliefs publicly and specifically."
