January 12th, 2009
We were tipped to this press release from the Arizona-based Alliance Defense Fund announcing a press conference on a proposed anti-marriage amendment for Indiana. State Reps. P. Eric Turner (R-Marion) and Dave Cheatham (D-North Vernon) are listed as co-sponsors for the amendment during for the current General Assembly session. Also participating at the press conference are unnamed representatives from the Family Research Council and the Indiana Family Institute.
[Hat tip: Mike]
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Timothy Kincaid
January 12th, 2009
In Indiana, the state constitution can be amended only by the affirmative vote of two separately elected consecutive legislatures (in each house) followed by a vote of the constituents.
In other words, by this legislature, by that elected in 2010, and then to the people in 2012.
This proposal has been passed in the state Senate three times now. It has been consistently shuffled off to death by committee in the House. This year it is likely to suffer the same fate.
Lindoro
January 12th, 2009
[Ed – removed due to violation of our Comments Policy].
Anyone wanting to contact this Republican on a Democrat skin can use this address:
Dave Cheatham
1210 W County Road 60 S
North Vernon, IN 47265-7034
(812) 346-6697
Richard W. Fitch
January 12th, 2009
The last round of this fiasco was defeated largely by the efforts of several large Indiana corporations including Lily Pharmaceuticals and Cummins Engine. They maintain that to keep the best and brightest for their industries requires an environment that is open to diversity. Hopefully they and others will be as adamant should this new/resuscitated bill reach the full legislature. Sadly, Indiana has a very ‘Southern’ mentality.
Lynn David
January 13th, 2009
Oh well…. I hope Timothy Kincaid is right.
I was hoping this wouldn’t come up this session. But then I was hoping California would be constitutionally free of such discrimination also. But what happened in California has only emboldened them for a new try in Indiana.
The FRC wonk was Tony Perkins himself.
The amendment’s wording evidently is: “Only a marriage between one man and one woman should 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.”
Last time they said they didn’t want to rule out Civil Unions should Indiana might want to extend certain rights in such a vehicle (Should? Like Indiana ever will); but the languange now is such that Civil Unions would specifically be denied by the amendment.
Bil Browning at Bilerco has video concerrning the introduction of the amendment. See: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cwQ9OHZOoz8
Or the link Bilerco.
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