Governor Pence and the Indiana Legislature are hopeful that House Joint Resolution 6 will make it through 2013 and be on the November ballot in 2014. This "resolution", known as the Indiana Marriage Discrimination Amendment, will have major implications to Indiana's citizens. This amendment will not only affect the same sex couples who have committed themselves to one another, it will also have major implications on their children. Just as same sex couples are seeing great strides across the country when it comes to equality for all, Indiana is growing ever closer to earning the reputation of the backwoods brother in the fight for equal rights for all citizens.
First, let's take a look at HJR6, what it says, and how it will negatively affect Indian's LGBT community. It has already passed through the House and Senate, and is on track to become the first time in Indiana’s history when our constitution is amended to take away rights rather than to grant them. The exact wording of the resolution is, "Only a marriage between one (1) man and one (1) woman shall be valid or recognized as a marriage in Indiana. A legal status identical or substantially similar to that of marriage for unmarried individuals shall not be valid or recognized."
Once passing through the Indiana House and Senate again in 2013, this Amendment would have a dramatic effect on gay and lesbian relationships in the state by potentially...
It will also have negative financial implications on the state's economy by potentially...
This amendment will ruin lives, destroy families, cause economic crisis, and set the Hoosier state back hundreds of years.
After the SCOTUS rulings on DOMA and Prop 8,
Indiana House Speaker Brian C. Bosma (R-Indianapolis) issued the following statement in response:
“The members of the General Assembly will be fully equipped to address the issue of the constitutional amendment in the coming legislative session, and with today’s decision, I am confident the matter will come before the General Assembly and ultimately be placed on a referenda ballot for voter consideration. As they have in 30 other states, Hoosiers should have the right to speak on this issue.”
This is why we must be involved and active in making sure our government understands fully the repercussions of their actions. This is not about same sex marriage. This is about equality and equal treatment for ALL families in our state and across the nation. It is time for those on the wrong side of history to step aside and let history take its rightful course. We must stand up, all of us in the LGBT community and our heterosexual supporters. We must push this issue to its destined end, and see that it never makes it to the 2014 ballot. If, in the worst case sceario, it does make it to that phase, we must advocate againt its passage.
"We hold these truths to be self-evident that ALL men are created equal." It is time for ALL citizens to be treated with the same rights, equal protections, and desired happiness of life. Please do not sit back and think that someone else will take care of making sure this happens for Hoosiers. You have to be that "someone else" and make your position known as you stand on the side of history that will afford all of these equalities for Indiana's LGBT citizens. We all have the right to equal protections and equal treatments. Let's ALL stand up and see that Indiana moves to the RIGHT side of History.
The videos below are two songs that emphasize the importance of equality and the dreams for Equality shared by the LGBT community, their families, friends, and loved ones.
We Have The Right - Samia
Same Love - Macklemore
