Marriage advocates are optimistic the proposed Indiana marriage-protection amendment will pass the state Senate this week. However, it is likely to face harsh opposition when it reaches House Speaker Pat Bauer's desk.
“He has personally assured its death,” said Sue Swayze, program coordinator for the Indiana Family Institute. “He actually won an award from the ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union) a few years ago for killing it.”
Supporters of same-sex "marriage" say Hoosiers don’t care about marriage and are focused on property tax reform. Swayze said both property tax reform and a marriage amendment can be accomplished.
"The focus ought to be on what can we do to permanently protect marriage in the state of Indiana," Eric Miller, founder of Advance America, told WISH-TV.
This is the last chance to get the marriage issue on the November ballot. If Bauer doesn’t pass the bill this year and send it to voters, marriage advocates must restart the four- to six-year process.
“Hoosiers need to understand that if we do not change the Constitution of the state of Indiana to protect marriage — to lock it in, between one man and one woman — it is only a matter of time before an activist judge in some court case somewhere in Indiana rules in such a way that will usher in gay 'marriage',” Swayze said.
“It needs to be on the ballot. This is a historic question for our culture and our families, and it needs to be in the hands of Hoosiers to decide.”
TAKE ACTION
If you live in Indiana, urge House Speaker Pat Bauer to support the marriage amendment. You can find contact information through our Action Center.
