Indiana Senate Approves Amendment To State Constitution Banning Both Same Sex Marriage And Civil Unions; Sponsor Dennis Kruse Says Measure Provides Maximum Protection For Traditional Family Unit; Amendment Needs To Be Approved Again By Different Legislature And Voters

The Indiana Senate has approved a proposed amendment banning same sex marriage and civil unions Tuesday afternoon by a vote of 40-10, according to a report by The Indianapolis Star. Should the General Assembly passes the measure again in either 2013 or 2014, it would go to the voters in 2014, before the state constitution can be amended. The Indiana House already approved the measure. Democratic Senator Tim Lanane of Anderson argued that attitudes toward same sex marriages are rapidly evolving and that the amendment, therefore, would make it arduous for future changes in state law. Current state law prohibits same sex marriages. Amendment sponsor Senator Dennis Kruse of Auburn says the measure would provide maximum protection for the basic family unit of society, a defence he argued, of the traditional. Some major Indiana corporations, including Eli Lilly and Co. and Cummins, oppose the amendment saying it will make it harder to attract top talent to the state. Thirty states have constitutional bans on marriage. Twenty also ban civil unions in their constitutions. Republicans have majorities in both chambers of the Indiana legislature.