The AVA held a press conference before today's House committee hearing on SJR-7, the proposed constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage and civil unions. Speaking at the press conference were:

• Bill Groth - AVA President
• JoAnne Sanders - Indianapolis City-County Council vice-president (D)
• Scott Keller - Indianapolis City-County Councilor (R) and AVA board member
• Mike Kole - Libertarian candidate for Secretary of State in 2006
• Kathleen Dobie - Indiana Green Party

Below is the press release we handed out at the news conference:

INDIANAPOLIS – Speaking at the Indiana Statehouse today, representatives from all political persuasions denounced SJR-7, the constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage and civil unions.

SJR-7 would not only write discrimination into our Constitution for the first time in history, but it also goes beyond marriage to ban “the legal incidents of marriage.” These incidents are not legally defined and could include civil unions, domestic partner benefits and domestic violence protections.

“This amendment is dangerous and could nullify domestic violence protections for unmarried couples,” said Indianapolis City-County Council vice-president JoAnne Sanders (D). “I work daily to ensure that Indianapolis is a world-class city and I know what an intolerant message this sends to potential businesses and citizens.”

“SJR-7’s lead sponsor claims that domestic partner benefits aren’t the target, but a few years ago he tried to kill domestic partner benefits at public universities through a budget amendment,” added American Values Alliance president Bill Groth. “What is even more troubling is that the language of SJR-7 would tie the hands of future state legislatures from passing laws granting same-sex benefits, and in this sense it is profoundly undemocratic.”

Mike Kole, Libertarian candidate for Secretary of State in 2006, concluded, “All states have repealed statutes banning mixed-race marriages. Undaunted by the enlightened end of that bigotry, Indiana and other states bring forth legislation that rejects the philosophical underpinnings to our traditions, and rejects liberty. Rather than adopting SJR-7, the House should do the right thing and reject it.”

No matter the party affiliation, all the speakers reached the same conclusion: SJR-7 is dangerous law and would be bad for Indiana.

login or register to post comments