Senator tries again to ban Indiana vouchers over gay firings

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - A proposal aimed at banning private schools that discriminate against gay employees and students from receiving Indiana voucher program money is being back by the state's Republican school superintendent.

The bill filed Friday by Democratic Sen. J.D. Ford of Indianapolis comes after protests over the firings of gay staff members at two Catholic high schools in Indianapolis because they were in same-sex marriages. The proposal would prohibit private school voucher money from going to schools that discriminate over factors including sexual orientation, disability, race, gender or religion.

Ford and state schools Superintendent Jennifer McCormick argue taxpayer money shouldn't support schools that don't treat all students and employees equally. The voucher program distributed about $161 million for some 36,000 students attending private schools during 2018-2019, according to a state Department of Education report.

It is unlikely that the bill will advance in the Republican-dominated Legislature during this year's session as Ford's bill in 2019 wasn't considered by a Senate committee and House Republicans voted down a similar proposal as well.

Voucher program advocates maintain that the state money isn't awarded to schools, but to families who then choose the best school for their children.