On-again-off-again Bilerico-Indiana blogger Chris Douglas and Sarris were two of the major forces behind the fledgling coalition of groups that eventually morphed into today's equality organization. Douglas, a former lobbyist for an earlier LGBT organization, and Sarris, a member of Republican former Governor Robert Orr's administration, are both well-known party loyalists and defenders who maintained their connections in political circles. Both also lobbied the LGBT community on behalf of Governor Mitch Daniel's campaign in 2004.

The group has struggled with fundraising because of perceptions that they were Republican-dominated. At one point in the coalition's history, the group refused Stonewall Democrats' admittance in an attempt to stay non-partisan that ended in a public relations nightmare; affiliated groups splintered off along mostly partisan lines and momentum was lost for years.

In an attempt to shore up fundraising efforts and board member relations, the notoriously ill-tempered Sarris was shuffled off to the 501(c)(3) board for 2008. After some organizational reorganizing and a large influx of grant money, Sarris has again taken control of the group when the not-for-profit arm was re-named "Indiana Equality" earlier this year (instead of "Indiana Equality Education Fund"). The original Indiana Equality, a 501(c)(4), became "Indiana Equality Action."

Lately, the organization has become much more non-partisan in their behind-the-scenes politics after lobbyist Mark St. John was tacitly given free reign. St. John, a former Republican candidate for the Bloomington City Council, is a Stonewall Democrats board member, but works with legislators from both parties on behalf of his various clients. 2008 Indiana Equality board chair, Randy Studt, and 2009 Indiana Equality Action board chair, Walter Botich, are both Democrats.

There's plenty about IE to criticize; we don't need to make stuff up. While the group has it's flaws, being "an extension of the Democratic Party" isn't one of them.