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Indianapolis, January 30, 2005-- The Indiana General Assembly began its 2005 session on January 4th. As expected, lawmakers have taken up consideration of a constitutional ban on same-sex marriage. Seven resolutions to amend Indiana's constitution have been filled - six in the House and one in the Senate. However, House Republicans say they will not consider such an amendment until the second half of the session. Speaker Brian Bosma plans to consider the marriage amendment that is expected to pass the Indiana Senate.

Consequently, attention has turned to Senate Joint Resolution 7, Definition of Marriage. Authored by Senator Brandt Hershman (R-Monticello), the resolution 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 neither the State Constitution nor any other Indiana law may be construed to confer marital status or any legal incidents of marriage upon unmarried couples or groups.

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.

Other bills have been introduced, inluding bills affecting GLBT youth from bullying, and an attack on Adoption and Domestic Partner Benefits.

Urgent community action is required regarding all of this legislation. Please check out Indiana Equality's Action Center for complete information on all of this legislation and to learn how to make your voice heard.