TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) — Tuesday morning, the ACLU of Indiana filed a suit in the U.S. District Court against Indiana State University (ISU) on behalf of The Pride Center of Terre Haute (The Pride Center) after the university allegedly refused to allow the Pride Center’s Pride Fest 2025 on ISU’s campus.
The Pride Center is a non-profit organization that works to create a positive impact on the lives of LGBTQ+ individuals in and around Vigo County.
In 2023 and 2024, The Pride Center held its Pride Fest on ISU’s campus, but in 2025 the ACLU of Indiana said, “without The Pride Center’s knowledge, ISU secured an agreement from the city of Terre Haute to hold Pride Fest at a city park off-campus in 2025.”
Legal Director for the ALCU, Ken Falk, says the event being on campus is paramount for its success.
“It is something that is a very welcome thing to many students”, Falk said. “It demonstrates this sort of inclusivity that pride festivals are designed to express.”
In previous years, the festival was held in the “Quad” on ISU’s campus, and the ACLU of Indiana said this open area is designed for “expressive activity” by both ISU and Indiana Law.
The ACLU of Indiana claims moving the festival off campus is in violation of both the university’s own policies and the Constitution.
“ISU’s failure to provide Pride Fest an on-campus location is directly related to the message of inclusivity, equality, and support conveyed by all Pride festivals. It is clear that the university is censoring Pride Fest because of its support of the LGBTQ+ community. The Pride Center has a First Amendment right to hold their festival in the Indiana State University Quad – a space explicitly designated as a place for free expression,” said the ACLU of Indiana Legal Director Ken Falk in a press release regarding the suit.
The Pride Center also alleges that an on-campus site is essential to The Pride Festival as it is a way to show new students that ISU is a welcoming campus.
“The University’s denial of a reservation for Pride Fest is part of a recent pattern of ISU preventing or discouraging actions and events that are intended to support the LGBTQ+ community,” said the ACLU of Indiana
The ALCU and Pride Center hope to have everything resolved before this year’s festival.
“We will be seeking what’s called a preliminary injunction, which is an order prior to a final judgement, to make sure that the September festival can occur on ISU campus.”
WTWO/WAWV has reached out to ISU, the ACLU of Indiana and The Pride Center for comment.
A representative with Indiana State University has told WTWO/WAWV that the university is not able to comment on pending litigation.
We are still waiting for responses from the ALCU of Indiana and The Pride Center.
