Why No Marriage Amendment for Hoosiers?

Guest post by Irvington writer and ISD member Pepper Partin.

Why have we Hoosiers been able to avoid a state constitutional amendment defining marriage as between one man and one woman? After all, 30 states currently have constitutional language defining marriage. And, after all, it’s not as though some Hoosiers have not fought tooth and nail to attempt to write marriage discrimination into our state’s constitution.

The short answer is: Democrats. That’s right. Democrats. Because Democrats have controlled the Indiana House of Representatives since 2008, the House has consistently refused to vote on marriage definition bills that have come before it.

The long answer is: we Hoosiers have a pretty sweet deal in that it’s not easy for a proposed constitutional amendment to go to voters via referendum. In some states, all that’s needed is a minimum number of signatures by way of petition. In Indiana, however, a bill for a proposed amendment would need to pass in two separately elected general assemblies. So while same-sex couples in Indiana still can’t marry due to a statute that defines marriage as between one man and one woman, opponents of same-sex marriage fear that the statute may someday be invalidated by Indiana’s Supreme Court. Writing marriage definition into Indiana’s constitution will make it much more difficult for any such invalidation, which is what same-sex marriage opponents count on.

Unfortunately, since Barack Obama’s election, many Republicans have energized their base by using their usual tactics, tactics that include fear mongering and wedge issues. And pundits like Glenn Beck, Rush Limbaugh, and “news” programs such as Fox News work tirelessly to spread lies, lies that seem to be working on the psyches of most fair-minded Americans. According to a July 2010 Gallup Poll, independent voters said they are leaning heavily toward the GOP come November. This is not good news for the GLBT community, as Republicans are, on the whole, against many civil rights for GLBT Americans.

What does the national conversation have to do with Indiana? Everything. As many Republicans campaign for a seat in the Indiana legislature this November, no doubt they will draw upon the rhetoric used to undermine Democratic seats. We cannot allow this to happen. Keeping the House of Representatives blue is the most effective way we can keep marriage discrimination out of our state’s constitution.

In Indiana’s District 89, which includes the east side of Indianapolis, Democrat John Barnes, an ally of the GLBT community, is running against Republican Cindy Kirchhofer. Ms. Kirchhofer, or “Stand with Cindy” as she is sometimes known, does not support equal rights for GLBT Hoosiers, and she would vote in favor of a marriage discrimination amendment should she have the opportunity to do so.

It is vital that we keep the Indiana House blue. It is vital that we keep John Barnes in office. How can you help? Register for the spooktacular John Barnes fundraiser, Haunted Irvington Ghost Tours, on September 10^thand 17^th. We promise a fun, creepy evening, and the proceeds benefit The Committee to Elect John Barnes. For more information, and to register and purchase tickets, visit this link: http://www.instonewalldems.org/ghosttour

Remember, keeping the Indiana House blue is the Indiana GLBT community’s first line of defense against writing marriage discrimination into our state’s constitution!

(If you are unable to attend the ghost tour fundraisers, please consider making a donation to the Indiana Stonewall Democrats.)