INDIANAPOLIS — On Saturday, September 7, the City of Fishers hosted a family-friendly Pride Event at the Holy Family Episcopal Church.

Republican Lieutenant Governor candidate Micah Beckwith reposted an article published by a right-wing site on his Facebook page on Tuesday, and blasted the city of Fishers for hosting the event. In the comments, he responded to a query asking “are we really shocked a ‘church’ in Fishers did this?” In response, Beckwith wrote the following: 

“If there is one city in central Indiana that I’m not surprised is allowing this, it’s Fishers. Sexually grooming children has been a part of the Fishers culture for a long time. (emphasis added) From what’s happening in the Library to the schools and now this. It’s unfortunately par for the course.”

Beckwith’s disparaging comments come as a shock given that Fishers’ Mayor Scott Fadness is a Republican and has led the city and overseen its tremendous growth since he was elected Fishers’ first Mayor in 2015. While being a team player has never been Beckwith’s style, his negative characterization of Republican-led Fishers is notable, and it indicates that a Braun-Beckwith administration will be fraught with divisiveness. 

“Hoosiers need a state leadership team committed to restoring common sense and balance to our government so we can keep Indiana moving forward, not one that is just weird and alienating to our great communities,” said Indiana Democratic Party Chair Mike Schmuhl. 

“If Mike Braun and Micah Beckwith go to the  governor’s and lieutenant governor’s offices, Hoosiers lose the opportunity to restore Hoosiers’ freedom to reproductive care, cannabis, and high quality education. Instead, they will focus on the best ways to divide Hoosiers, and pit them against one another – if they can even get along themselves.”