Statement on lawmakers’ decision not to pursue HJR-6 during the 2013 General Assembly session
INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana Equality Action and a number of allied organizations across the state issued the following statement today in response to the decision by House and Senate lawmakers not to pursue a vote on HJR-6 during the 2013 General Assembly session.
(The statement should be attributed to Indiana Equality Action executive director Rick Sutton. Allied organizations are listed below.)
“First and foremost, we want to thank legislators for putting the brakes on an amendment that would permanently alter our Indiana Constitution with uncertain long-term consequences.
“We continue to believe the spirit of this amendment runs counter to our shared Hoosier values of kindness and equality. We also believe that the breadth and vagueness of the second sentence of the proposed amendment creates a host of unintended legal issues.
“A recent study by students at the Indiana University Maurer School of Law found a significant number of rights and obligations related to marriage that could be permanently denied under the proposed amendment. We will continue to look into these issues and monitor the U.S. Supreme Court cases in the coming months.
“Today, though, we celebrate the evolution of this debate and the open, honest dialogue we have had with lawmakers about the amendment’s effect on our state, our economy and our future. A delay is by no means a win, but we believe we are headed in a better direction, and Indiana is stronger when we all move forward together.”
ALLIED ORGANIZATIONS
Citizens for Civil Rights
Lafayette
Mary J. Finnegan
FairTalk
Jean Capler
FairTalk at IU
Bloomington
Christine Webb
Indiana Stonewall Democrats
Aaron Schaler
Interfaith Coalition on Nondiscrimination (ICON)
Indianapolis
Rev. Marie Siroky
Mental Health America of Indiana
Lester C. Miller, Chair of the Board
One Voice Indiana
Indianapolis
Dr. Bill Buffie
Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG)
Indianapolis
Annette Gross
Pride Lafayette
Lafayette
Ashley Smith
Tri State Alliance
Evansville
Wally Paynter
