Indianapolis, IN

State grant helps Damien Center expand support for LGBTQ+ community

Published

1 year ago

December 9, 2024

State grant helps Damien Center expand support for LGBTQ+ community

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — For nearly 40 years, the Damien Center has provided services and support for Hoosiers living with HIV and members of the LGBTQ+ community. Soon, the center will be able to expand some of its services, thanks to funding from the state.

Last week, Damien Center announced that it is the recipient of a four-year, $800,000 grant from the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration’s Division of Mental Health and Addiction.

Damien Center will use the funding to offer more mental health and substance abuse disorder treatment services for LGTBQ+ individuals and hire two full-time licensed mental health therapists.

The funding also enables the creation of group therapy programs tailored to specific needs, including LGBTQ+ older adults (55+), transgender and gender-diverse individuals, and other groups identified through community input.

Members of the LGBTQ+ community tend to experience addiction, substance use disorder, and mental health needs at a much higher rate than the general population, Alan Witchey, president and CEO of the Damien Center, said Monday on Daybreak.

Witchey says that it’s critical, but often difficult, for LGBTQ+ individuals to find mental health care in a supportive environment.

“They might go to medical care or mental health care…and not have, necessarily, a friendly experience,” Witchey said. “Some people might make them feel like they should be back in the closet, or they don’t belong, or sort of build up that stigma. What we really try to do is break that down and create a very safe place for people to come and get the care they need.”

The goal for the future, Witchey says, is to provide a “one-stop shop” for the local LGBTQ+ community by offering as many services as possible under one roof, including medical care and food and housing support.

“We we hope to create a whole environment in our community where people are safe; regardless of who you are, walking into our doors feels like a safe and welcoming place for care,” Witchey said. “We want to partner with people who are the most disenfranchised and our community who needs support the most and create that environment where they can come in and get the hope and the support that they need.”

Anyone in need of Damien Center’s services is encouraged to visit damien.org. People interested in mental health services can go to the patient portal and fill out an interest form and someone will be in touch, Witchey says.

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Indianapolis, IN

Anti-war protest sparks in Indianapolis amid US-Iran conflict

Published

2 hours ago

March 1, 2026

Press Room

Anti-war protest sparks in Indianapolis amid US-Iran conflict

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) – More than a dozen protesters gathered at Military Park. In a dramatic escalation, the US and Israel engaged in military strikes against Iran and protesters are upset, including veteran Lucas Lee.

“I know what it’s like to be on the edge, potentially going somewhere where your life is at risk. And I believe this war is something we shouldn’t be fighting in. It’s important to stand up, because not only is standing up the right thing to do, but it could potentially save lives.”

Protesters held signs that read ‘Hands off Iran’ in front of the corner of West and New York intersection.
Several cars honked in support. Democratic City County Councilor Jesse Brown attended as well.

IPS School Teacher Noah Leininger organized the Anti-Iran War Rally. “The United States spends 1 trillion dollars on war every single year. While there are massive unmet needs right here in our own communities. People need jobs, healthcare, housing, and schools. And instead our government spends a trillion dollars every year to go and bomb elementary school age girls,” he said.

Iranian officials say the U.S. and Isreal hit a girl’s primary school in southern Iran killing at least 115 people.

The US strikes have not only created tension in the Middle East, but also here at home.
Mark Oakley who supports military action Iran, confronted the anti-war protesters. “Freedom for Iranian people, freedom for Americans. Freedom for everybody, but this [protest] is not it. When you’re debating about innocent people getting killed. You are debating the wrong thing.”

Additional police were called in to de-escalate the situation.

Chris Gomez, attended the protest because he wanted to take action. “Trump ran on a platform called the party of peace. That’s what Republicans run their policy on a party of peace, but look where we are now.”

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Indianapolis, IN

Indianapolis Opera’s free concert spotlights influential Black composers

Published

14 hours ago

February 28, 2026

Press Room

Indianapolis Opera’s free concert spotlights influential Black composers

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — The Indianapolis Opera will host a free concert in honor of Black History Month Saturday night at 6 p.m. to celebrate the legacy and artistry of Black composers. The event features a range of spirituals, contemporary art songs, and operatic works performed a cappella.

Lyndsay Moy, the director of education, outreach, branding and design for Indianapolis Opera, said the event is designed to keep this specific music accessible to the public.

Resident artist Ian Williams, describes the concert as a mix of traditional repertoire and new songs. The artists will perform without microphones or instrumental accompaniment. “All of this is just straight out of our voices, so there’s no microphones,” Williams said. “We’re just creating the sound ourselves and putting it into a space, so it’s a little bit of, a little bit of breathing, a little bit of extra work there, yes.”

“So many composers tonight have been so influential in the broader vocal canon and it’s important and wonderful for us to be able to offer this kind of concert for free to our community to keep this kind of music accessible and more importantly to feature these fabulous artists like Ian so much talent,” Moy said.

Williams noted that the concert allows the organization to celebrate classic composers who were not well known during their own time. “It’s very cool because we get to celebrate some of classic composers all the way back to William Grant Steele, who was one of the who wrote operas back in the day, even during the time of Porgy and Bess, but he wasn’t, it wasn’t well known,” Williams said.

One of the featured pieces is the traditional spiritual “Fix Me Jesus,” which was arranged for the University of Michigan choir. Williams said the arrangement by Stacey Gibbs maintains the traditional spiritual style while adding rich harmonies.

While formal tickets for the event are currently sold out, those interested in attending can email tickets@indyopera.org to be added to a waitlist.

Check out the video above to hear a sneak peak of the Indianapolis Opera!

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