“More Than Just a Couple” IEA/IU Maurer School of Law Report

The IU Maurer School of Law’s LGBT Project and Indiana Equality Action are proud to present a project 9 months in the making.  The report, “More Than Just a Couple: 614 Reasons Why Marriage Equality Matters in Indiana (A Compendium of the Rights and Responsibilities of Civil Marriage in the Indiana Code)”.

Cover image for the MTJAC IEA/Maurer report

Click “Read More” for commentary and links to stories.

Comment from The LGBT Project

The LGBT Project at the Indiana University Maurer School of Law is proud to present this compendium of provisions detailing the rights and responsibilities of marriage in the Indiana Code. It is the product of nine months of research by over twenty-five law students in the LGBT Project to concisely catalogue those statutes related to married and family life in Indiana.

This research helps illuminate the extent to which many provisions of the Indiana Code are legally and linguistically tied to civil marriage, family, and spousal relationships. Civil marriage in Indiana confers upon Hoosier families a range of rights, as well as a host of responsibilities owed to others. As future lawyers, we recognize that any discussion of marriage equality for same- sex couples, or over legislation that affects marriage equality, must include what marriage is in the eyes of the law.

What is clear from this compendium is the extent to which Indiana law uses civil marriage as a way to classify, grant rights to, and impose responsibilities upon couples and families in 614 ways. We hope that it serves as a resource for examining how legislative action around marriage can affect all Hoosier couples and families.

Comment from Indiana Equality Action

Indiana Equality Action is pleased to acknowledge and endorse this well-researched and documented compendium of Indiana statutes by students in the LGBT Project at the Mauer School of Law at Indiana University in Bloomington.

Hoosiers and their lawmakers continue to participate in the debate over what has come to be known as “The Marriage Equality Issue”. This compilation amply illustrates the significant number of diverse sections of the Indiana Code where the rights and benefits, as well as the obligations and responsibilities associated with civil marriage are addressed.

Awareness of how pervasive these rights and obligations are within Indiana’s statutes is important to meaningful dialogue concerning a proposed amendment to Indiana’s Constitution that would invalidate and prohibit recognition of any “legal status” identical or “substantially similar” to marriage for unmarried couples.

Whether one supports or opposes such a proposal, knowing what is involved in something as enduring as an amendment to the Bill of Rights in Indiana’s highest legal document is critical to enlightened public discourse and decision.

This document helps do just that, and we heartily add our deep appreciation for the efforts involved.

“More Than Just a Couple” in the News

Posted in General, HJR-6, Indiana, Indiana Marriage Discrimination Amendment.

2 Comments

  1. Ann Blaisdell Smith, MSW/LCSW

    November 28, 2012 at 3:22 pm

    This is a great resource. Good Job!

    • IEA

      November 28, 2012 at 7:15 pm

      Thanks so much for the feedback, Ann! Working with the students of the LGBT Project was a fantastic experience. We’re so proud to be a part of this effort and glad that everyone seems to be finding it as informative as we are.

Comments are closed