LGBTQ+ political candidates appear on rural Owen County billboards

SPENCER, Ind. (FREE PRESS INDIANA) — Six candidates for Owen County township offices in the November election are coming out to voters, introducing themselves on two billboards near Spencer.

The promotion, paid for by the Stonewall Democrats of South Central Indiana, marks the first time the organization has endorsed any candidates in the rural, conservative county — because usually there aren’t any the group would support.

The organization, which financially supports and endorses LGBTQ+ candidates and Democrats who share their values, provided $1,500 for the billboards promoting the mostly queer slate in township-level races. One billboard is on Indiana 67 near Boston Scientific and the other on Indiana 46 between Ellettsville and Spencer.

“We usually don’t have candidates running there, and we are absolutely thrilled,” said Wayne Shepherd, president of south-central Indiana’s Stonewall group.

He credits Collin Rotella, the Democratic candidate for Morgan Township trustee, with leading the unprecedented charge toward electing more nontraditional candidates in the heavily Republican area. In the 2024 presidential election, 75% o...