Opponents Of Measure To Amend Indiana Constitution And Define Marriage As That Only Existing Between Man And Woman Rally In Indianapolis; Equality For All Hoosiers Argue Republicans Writing Discrimination Into Constitution

WTHR-13 reports on a rally that took place Monday afternoon at the Indiana Statehouse to protest a move to define who can and who cannot legally marry in the state. The Equality for all Hoosiers rally focused on SJR 6, an effort by the Indiana legislature to define marriage, sponsors intent on changing the state's constitution to define the instruction of marriage as that only being between a man and a woman. Opponents, however, contend that the measure is much more than that. "The resolution of course as it's been stated would ban marriage between anybody but a man and woman, but also would ban [the law from recognizing] relationships that are referred to as substantially similar, which could include civil unions and might even jeopardize things that are traditionally accepted by employers like domestic partnership benefits and that sort of thing. So it goes further than just banning gay marriage," said State Senator John Broden (Democrat-South Bend). Broden believes the bill would "prohibit a lot more than gay marriage, and I think would go very far in terms of Indiana's ability to attract top flight employers and employees." The resolution passed out of the House of Representatives and now heads to the Senate, and while little is being accomplished because of the House Democrats' boycott, now in its fourth week, Broden says the marriage amendment is closer to being passed than it ever has been. "I would say so. Although I believe one time it did pass both chambers but of course since this is a constitutional amendment process, it'll have to be back before it passes the 2012 election for yet another session of the General Assembly before it can be placed on the state-wide ballot," said Broden. Like many other issues, the marriage amendment has been pushed out of the spotlight by the Democrats' walkout and labour legislation. Last week a Planned Parenthood rally marked the first time in weeks that a different topic was finally being debated. But the marriage amendment bill has already passed the House, and Broden says it's certainly something that is likely to be taken up in the Senate. Broden said he really didn't know if the marriage amendment bill would be one of the casualties of the walkout that has halted activity in the House. "I don't think the Senate intends to make any changes to it although it is different in language from some of those versions in the past, so that could impact whether it's a casualty or not," he said.