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 Indiana Anti-Gay Amendment Fails To Advance
by 365Gay.com Newscenter Staff
Posted: April 4, 2007 - 11:00 am ET
(Indianapolis, Indiana) A tie vote in a key
committee has stalled, at least for this year, a proposed amendment banning
same-sex marriage and likely barring any benefits for unmarried couples - same,
or opposite-sex.
The House Rules Committee voted 5-5 on advancing the proposed the amendment.
Under House rules, because there was no majority, the measure failed to pass.
State law already bars same-sex couples from
marrying.
The proposed constitutional amendment defines
marriage only as the union of one man and one woman. But, it goes to say the
state cannot provide the "incidents" of marriage on unmarried couples
or groups.
The second part of the amendment would block
domestic partner benefits from being offered state employees or institutions
funded by the state, say opponents.
Amending the constitution is a two stage process
in Indiana, requiring votes in two consecutive separately elected sessions
of the legislature.
It already passed the first phase in 2005.
Rules Committee Chair Rep. Scott Pelath (D) said
the issue is over for this year. But it could return in 2008 and if
approved by the legislature go on the ballot that November.
Republicans have vowed not to let the issue die.
"I think the voters of the state of Indiana
should have a right to express their views on the issue,'' said Sen. Brandt
Hershman (R), the sponsor of the amendment.
In March, the measure passed the GOP controlled
Senate 39-10 along party lines.
Opponents of the proposed amendment say that if
the legislature is intent on barring gay marriage in the constitution provisions
thwarting partner benefits and other recognitions of same-sex couples should be
dropped.
Last month drug maker Eli Lilly and Co - one of
the state's biggest employers - issued an open letter to House Speaker B.
Patrick Bauer (D) saying the amendment could cost the company valuable workers.
The company has offered domestic partner benefits
since 2004 and Lilly VP Tony Murphy in the letter said the company is worried
that the amendment could put those benefits at risk.
"[S]ome employees may choose to leave
Indiana to work in a state where these benefits are perceived not to be
threatened," Murphy wrote.
©365Gay.com 2007
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