Former Angie's List CEO Forms Advocacy Group

INDIANAPOLIS -- Former Angie’s List CEO Bill Oesterle is launching an advocacy organization to push for a statewide LGBT civil rights law next year. 

Oesterle was one of the most high-profile critics of Gov. Mike Pence and Republican lawmakers when they passed the religious freedom bill known as RFRA. He left his post atop Angie’s List earlier this year to refocus on civic engagement – and reemerged with the launch of Tech for Equality. 

Oesterle says the group will bring the voices of Indiana’s tech community to the legislature to advocate for LGBT civil rights.

“This last year there was sort of just outright public revolt over some of the actions and that just has an influence – it’s an evolution of everyone’s thinking about these issues," he said. "And that evolution continues and it’s clear that members of the legislature are paying attention to that.”

Oesterle says the tech community can bring a different perspective to the LGBT rights issue. 

“The tech community is totally dependent on talent to thrive – we have to grow it, we have to retain it and we have to attract it,” he said.

Oesterle says Tech for Equality will supplement the efforts of Freedom Indiana, the group that’s been advocating for the LGBT community the last two years.