Bloomington is home. It's the city where I found love, community, and purpose.But our home is at a crisis point.The cost of rent and home ownership are so high that most of Bloomington's workforce has to live outside the city. Corporations are taking our city over, pushing out smaller businesses and threatening to leave our home hollowed out and soulless. Not to mention how the state government has passed laws that are turning Indiana into the pinnacle of human rights violations. Add to that, other laws that might just leave our city bankrupt. The establishment, corporate Democrats who have traditionally run Bloomington, have sat on their hands and allowed this to happen.Things have to change, and they have to change now.My name is Lilliana Young, and I'm a decade long resident of Bloomington. I'm a renter, worker, and mom who knows the struggles our city's residents have to live with every day, from the anxiety of making rent, to the frustration of unmaintained city infrastructure and careless city spending.I'm not an establishment Democrat, I'm a Democratic Socialist and I'm here to get to work. I've proudly served Bloomington as a member of the Bloomington/Monroe County Human Rights Commission, a ground level member of Bloomington DSA, and even a former political candidate who used my platform and resources to draw attention and aid to our city's pressing issues.My promise is simple: to do everything possible to tackle our city's problems and uplift all its residents. I'll take on housing affordability, infrastructure, city funding and spending, and human rights with real, practical solutions.No excuses, no bullshit, just hard work.With your help, we'll keep our city Bloomington Strong.
About Lilliana
A Little About Lilliana
I'm a decade long resident of this wonderful city. In the last several years I've come to learn the value and necessity of public service and activism, in the pursuit of making a better world. Read on below to get a summary of the ways my work in Bloomington has grown and changed over time, and things I'm proud to have accomplished.
From 2022-2025 I was an LGBTQ community leader- I organized a social and mutual aid community group nicknamed "The Sisterhood" that was dedicated to the needs of local trans women, which helped find medicine, housing and other resources when needed, and provided safe social spaces where people could explore their personal transition journey and find comradery without fear of discrimination.- In 2024 I was part of a group that worked with the city of Bloomington to write and pass Resolution 2024-14, which stands as the city of Bloomington's promise to follow state law that targets the families of trans youth on only the lowest possible priority and with the slowest possible speed--a form of malicious compliance that can serve as local protection.
In 2024 I was appointed to the Bloomington/Monroe County Human Rights Commission- I've worked to uphold Bloomington's non-discrimination ordinance through investigating cases where landlords, business owners and others may have engaged in discrimination, based on things such as national origin, race, gender, sexual orientation, disability, gender identity and presentation, and more.- I've advocated through official city channels for the expansion of city policy and programs that would contribute to a stronger, more inclusive city.- I was elected as Secretary within the commission in 2025, and was the first transgender person in the commission's history to serve as an officer.
In 2025 I joined Bloomington DSA (Democratic Socialists of America)- I've contributed to the organizing and fundraising of BDSA's Bread and Roses Bash, an annual concert event that raises money for groups such as Exodus Refugee Immigration and the Indiana Abortion Fund.- I've participated in BDSA's Food Serve efforts, an ongoing effort to help keep Bloomington's unhoused residents fed.- I established and have led the Stonewall Working Group, dedicated to advancing the protections and rights of Bloomington's LGBTQ population on a local level.
In late 2025 and early 2026 I ran for Indiana House of Representatives in District 61.- I used campaign resources to run a food drive for Bloomington residents affected by the SNAP cuts that resulted from the government shutdown and the Trump administrations terrible "Big Bill."- I donated a portion of my campaign funds to the Bloomington Township Trustee's food bank program, to further help our low-income residents facing food insecurity.- I joined the Indiana Ave. Starbucks location union in their strike efforts, both on the picket line and behind the scenes with a holiday meal.- I worked alongside Bloomington DSA to pressure our city government into severing its contracts with the Flock surveillance corporation.- I attended legislative sessions and rallies at the Indiana State House to fight for the rights of transgender Hoosiers.For more information on my previous political campaign, you can find an archive of my old website below:
In 2026 I'm still putting in the workLosing the House District 61 primary election didn't kill my belief in a better Indiana or my dedication to protecting my community. While I did take some time off after the primary to rest, I'm still active as a city commissioner, DSA member and local activist. Being a mother and full time worker can sometimes make it hard to find the time for all the causes that need to fought for, but I will always use whatever time I have to help make a stronger Bloomington and a better Indiana.
The views expressed on this website do not reflect the Bloomington/Monroe County Human Rights Commission or the city of Bloomington, IN
My Guiding Political Philosophy
The purpose of government is to organize, protect and uplift the people. Anything that does not achieve this purpose, be it a law, ordinance, resolution, court ruling, department directive, or any other such action by any branch or level of government, should be treated as a malicious attack on our right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.I'm not a corporation loving member of the establishment Democrats. I'm a Democratic SocialistThis means I don't believe billionaires should exist, and that corporations and wealthy individuals should be taxed their fair share. This means workers should be paid a living wage, and every workplace should be unionized to ensure power belongs to workers, not the corporations who exploit them.I believe that cities should ensure that the basic needs of their residents are always the priority: infrastructure, affordable housing, reliable transit and thoughtful zoning and planning.And I believe that city governments have a moral duty to pursue every policy and program possible to ensure that human rights are never neglected. All members of our communities should find safety and belonging, no matter where they're from, how they identify, or what hardships have left them without a place to live.
The Issues
Affordable Housing:
Amend Bloomington's Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) to remove restrictions that obstruct the construction of smaller, more affordable homes.
Pursue a long-term complete rewrite of the UDO that should remove hundreds of pages of completely unnecessary construction restrictions.
Infrastructure:
Prioritize city budget to focus on infrastructure and public works as top priority, including but not limited to: road repair, transit, city cleanliness, parks maintenance, water quality, and more.
Ensure that regions of the city that were annexed in recent years also benefit from city resources and infrastructure projects.
Human Rights:
Implement programs and policies to uplift and protect Bloomington's immigrant and LGBTQ populations to the fullest extent possible.
Pursue every budget and policy option possible to help our unhoused residents put their lives back together.
Miscellaneous:
I am opposed to the existence of AI data centers in their entirety, and will work to ensure not a single one gets built in Monroe County.
I'll work to ensure no ALPR surveillance cameras stand in Bloomington (Flock, Axon, Palentir and other corporations)
Being a city council member will be my primary job, and I will approach it as though it's a full-time committment.
News, Events and Media
You'll find my videos archived on YouTube and Instagram linked above!
Contact and Social Media
Do you have questions about my campaign or my positions? Would you like to become a campaign volunteer? Please reach out to me through the email form below! What matters to my future constituents matters to me.Also, don't forget to follow me through the social media platforms listed above. It's the best way to keep up with my campaign in real time.
Campaign Donation Form
As a working class candidate, I swear to never accept a single dollar of corporate money. I'm here to serve the people, and it's the people I'll ask to fund me. If you want to support my campaign and help me get my messaging out, please fill out the donation form below.
Event Archive
Older Events
InterviewArchive
Older Interviews and Articles