INDIANA HAS IT ALL WRONG

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...

• Preventing any future attempts to allow for same-sex marriage
• Eliminating health care benefits for same-sex partnerships
• Eliminating legally binding documents for same-sex couples that are “substantially similar to marriage” such as wills and trusts
• Eliminating inheritance laws from being applied to same-sex couples
• Eliminating hospital visitation rights

It will also have negative financial implications on the state's economy by potentially...

• Deterring major companies from breaking ground in the state
• Causing current businesses to relocate to equality supportive states
• Forcing LGBT citizens to relocate to these same equality supportive states.

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:

 

“I am disappointed the federal Defense of Marriage Act has been overturned. I am certainly pleased the Supreme Court has confirmed each state’s right to address the legal issue of what constitutes one of the most important institutions in our society.

“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. 

Check out the Nix 6 Grassroots movement at https://www.facebook.com/Nix6March and join the fight against HJR6 and stand on the right side of history as we strike down this potential amendment and the negativity it would rain on our LGBT friends and neighbors. 






"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

 

 

CELEBRATE EQUALITY? HARD TO DO IN INDIANA!

Yes, I am extremely happy to be standing on the right side of history today, but forgive me if my celebration is short lived.  While I am happy for my LGBT community and brothers and sisters in states that have passed marriage equality laws, I happen to reside in Indiana.  Indiana, where on the very day of SCOTUS rulings striking down DOMA and throwing out California's Prop 8, Governor Mike Pence released a statement praising SCOTUS.  He did not praise them for their votes "for" equality, but for their decision to uphold individial states' rights to determine their own course on the "issue" of marriage equality.

Governor Pence issued the following statement with regard to the United States

Supreme Court decisions in U.S. v. Windsor and Hollingsworth v. Perry.

 

“I believe marriage is the union between a man and a woman and is a unique institution worth defending in our state and nation. For thousands of years, marriage has served as the glue that holds families and societies together and so it should ever be.

 

While I am disappointed that the Supreme Court has overturned the federal Defense of Marriage Act, I am grateful that today's decisions respect the sovereignty of states on this important issue. These decisions preserve the duty and obligation of the states to define and administer marriage as they see fit.

 

Now that the Supreme Court has had its say on the federal government’s role in defining marriage, the people of Indiana should have their say about how marriage is understood and defined in our state.

 

Given that opportunity, I am confident that Hoosiers will reaffirm our commitment to traditional marriage and will consider this important question with civility and respect for the values and dignity of all of the people of our state.

 

I look forward to supporting efforts by members of the Indiana General Assembly to place a constitutional amendment on the ballot for voter consideration next year.”

 

He is "confident" that Hoosiers will "reaffirm our commitment to traditional marriage and will consider this important question with civility and respect for the values of all of the poeple of our state"?  Really,  how can you consider such an issue with "civility" and "respect" "of all the poeple of our our state" when this type of action will have a direct negative effect on a portion of "all the people of our state"?  OUR STATE Mr.  Governor.  Remember it is not just your state, sir.  I am a HOOSIER, born and raised, and I am GAY! This dies not make me any less a citizen of this state. I, and my LGBT brothers and sisters, deserve equal rights as provided by the United States Constitution! It is time!  I plan to continue to stand with my partner and work to see that the equality supported by the Supreme Court of the United States exists for every citizen in every state. 

 

I stand on the side of history that supports equal rights for ALL, not just the few and priviledged.  I stand on the side of history that supports LOVE and the right for all Americans to love a person, not a gender.  When you stand up for your rights because you are proud of who you are and you find love that you want to share "til death do you part", then you should be able to exercise the right to enter into marraige as you wish.  No government entity should be able to stifle the rights of any group based on the "religious" beliefs of the individual members who make up that entity.  Elected officials have a right to their constituency, but they also have a responsibity to uphold legal constitutional rights and the equal treatment of all under any laws they should enact.  I am proud to stand on the "right side" of history today, I just hope that I continue to stand on this side while residing in my home state in the future.

 

PLEASE, if you have any leaning toward making a statement on this issue, do it.  Contact legislators, write letters, sign petitions, make your voice heard, and show where you stand.  History is continuing to be made daily, what side will you be on when your time is through.  For my family, my friends, and my fellow Hoosiers I will continue to stand for equality and love for ALL!