Gay marriage ban completes first step.

The Indiana House today finalized a first step toward a state constitutional ban on gay marriage, approving the proposal with bipartisan support today.

Proponents hailed the 76-23 vote as a move toward protecting the sanctity of traditional marriage from activist judges, while opponents decried it as singling out gays and lesbians for discrimination.

"The basic unit of our society is the family, and the cornerstone of the family is marriage, and marriage is the union of one man and one woman," said Rep. Eric Turner, R-Gas City. "A strong consensus has emerged in our country and our state that marriage must be strengthened."

All 52 Republicans voted in favor of the proposal, while all 23 who voted against it, including Rep. Craig Fry of Mishawaka, were Democrats.

"I'm offended we would pick on a certain group in our society who are not bothering me, who are not bothering you, who are not bothering anybody," Fry said. "I believe it is a tragedy, and I am embarrassed for this chamber."

The same proposal passed the Republican-controlled Senate 42-8 earlier this session.

However, amending the constitution requires a resolution to pass consecutive, separately elected General Assemblies and then approved in a statewide vote. That means if the proposal passes again in 2007 or 2008, it could be on the November ballot in 2008.

Indiana, as do at least 42 other states, already has a law that defines marriage as between a man and a woman. Seventeen states have constitutional language defining marriage.

A similar resolution passed the Republican-controlled Senate with bipartisan support last year, but Democrats who controlled the House then refused GOP attempts to advance or even debate it. Democrats controlled the chamber 51-49 then, and all 49 Republicans had pledged to support the amendment.

Republicans now have a 52-48 majority in the House, and House Speaker Brian Bosma had pledged efforts to pass it this session. Although debate today was sometimes emotional, Bosma later commended the chamber for debating the issue openly and calmly.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, March 22, 2005 at 3:56 PM. Want to discuss? Leave a comment below.