Indiana moves closer to constitutional ban on same-sex marriage

[Capt. Obvious]

Source: Reuters

The Indiana Senate on Monday approved a proposed amendment to the state's constitution that would prohibit same-sex marriage but more steps are required before it goes to voters in 2016.

The Indiana Senate approved the proposed ban by a vote of 32-17, following approval in the House of Representatives last month. But under state law, both chambers must approve the measure again, with the same language, in the next legislative session in 2015 or 2016 in order for the proposal to go before voters in 2016.

Indiana bans gay marriage by statute and supporters have said a constitutional amendment would provide additional protection from court challenges.

A version of the amendment had passed the Republican-dominated Indiana legislature in 2011, but the Indiana House in January softened it by removing language that would have banned gay civil unions. The Senate upheld the change made by the House on Thursday.

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/02/17/us-usa-gaymarriage-indiana-idUSBREA1G1H920140217

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I think this may just be pissing in the wind for them as courts have been rushing to strike them down.

[shenmue]

1. Maybe

I'm hoping that's what happens.

[geomon666]

2. Rushing to get the last domino on the board

Before the whole mess falls over.

[tomm2thumbs]

17. precisely - all about courting voter attention vs. really doing anything

at least they are smoking themselves out of the woodwork for younger voters to see and remember for the future

[Ed Suspicious]

3. Indiana - the Russia of the U.S.

[SoapBox]

9. +1000

[Aristus]

11. Or as I like to put it:

Indiana - Mississippi without the Spanish Moss.

[alp227]

4. More coverage:

Indianapolis Star

Fort Wayne Journal Gazette

Northwest Indiana Times

[Sienna86]

5. What an outrageous waste of time

Makes me sick when the time could be spent doing something good.

[Fumesucker]

6. Damn bigoted Southerners, when the hell will they join the rest of the human race?

[chrisau214]

12. Since When Is Indiana In the South?

[Jimbo S]

14. It can be considered borderline

My brother lived in Indianapolis quite some time. The state is quite red. Plus, one begins detecting the drawl starting with Indy.

[RoverSuswade]

16. Indiana is actually located between Alabama and Mississippi.

Back in 1996 Indiana went for Dole and was surrounded by all blue states for Clinton. It was embarrassing.

[damnedifIknow]

7. They have nothing better to do in Indiana

Misery loves company.

[Mr.Bill]

8. I'm convinced the people writing these laws

are the lawyers that will make a fortune off the state's taxpayers defending it on multiple appeals.

Smart governors and AGs are deciding to not even defend them. A trend I think started in California.

[AngryOldDem]

10. Opposition is well-organized and will be even stronger in 2016.

Only a vocal minority want this amendment. The civil unions language will always be a sticking point. Plus, in two years they will see that this will not stand up in any court, and will be stricken down as unconstitutional. In two years, this question may well be on its way to being definitively settled, making any kind of move like this pointless.

Yes, there are a lot of fundie nutjobs here. But the Senate Democrats today made intelligent, impassioned, and poignant calls to reason that I think resonate more with Hoosiers than the hate disguised as Christian love that's coming from the GOP.

Here is a link to the Freedom Indiana website:


http://www.freedomindiana.org/

[rurallib]

13. My SIL is from Indy - as far as possible in miles and mind

[eppur_se_muova]

15. Spelling error ! Forgot the prefix "un-". nt