Print Version

Indianapolis, January 23, 2005-- Senate Joint Resolution 7, Definition of Marriage would amend the State Constitution to declare that that marriage in Indiana consists only of the union of one man and one woman, and that Indiana law may not be construed to require that marital status or the legal incidents of marriage be conferred upon unmarried couples or groups.

The resolution, authored by Senator Brandt Hershman (Monticello) has been assigned to the Senate Committee on Corrections, Criminal, and Civil Matters. A hearing on the resolution is anticipated to take place in early February.

Effects of SJ7 passage

In addition to banning same-sex couples from marring, SJR 7 would generate a number of significant side-effects, including a spate of lawsuits challenging the ability of state and local governments to enact domestic partnership laws, and challenges to the validity of protective orders designed to reduce domestic violence. The resolution would also endanger the ability of: (1) public universities to provide domestic partnership benefits to their employees; (2) unmarried persons to jointly adopt and jointly foster children; and (3) unmarried elderly couples to care for each other.

Contact your State Senator, and ask your family and friends to do the same - TODAY!

Let your State Senator know why you believe that a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage is wrong for Indiana!

• No group of people should be fenced out of the Constitution. Constitutions give rights to people, they don’t strip them away.
• A marriage amendment would damage Indiana’s weak economy even further. It would discourage progressive corporations from locating here, undercutting the successful recruitment policies of Indiana businesses and universities, and sending a message to bright, talented individuals inside and outside Indiana that an entire class of citizens and their families are unwelcome.
• A marriage amendment could impose inappropriate mandates on Indiana’s business and universities.
• The proposed marriage amendments won't "protect traditional families," but will cause real harm to real families, young and old, gay and straight.

Contacting Your State Senator

The Senate Switchboard line is (800) 382-9467. For information on contacting the legislators who represent you, go to the Indiana General Assembly website. If you do not know who represents you, you can find out by going to Project Vote Smart - A Voter's Self Defense System.