Indiana’s Economic Viability the Key Issue Facing State Legislators; Marriage Discrimination Amendment an attempt to distract Hoosiers from the greater issues at hand

(Indianapolis) The future of Indiana’s economic health and viability is the most important issue facing all Indiana families, declared leaders and allies of Indiana’s gay and transgender communities in a press conference while the Indiana Senate contemplates the adoption of a marriage discrimination amendment to Indiana’s constitution.

“We are greatly disappointed that some members of the General Assembly have decided to endorse an amendment that would forever write discrimination into the Indiana Constitution,” stated Don Sherfick of Indiana Equality Action. “Indiana is facing a crippling recession, high unemployment, diminishing job prospects, a significant budget deficit and serious threats to Indiana’s public education system and social services programs. A discriminatory constitutional amendment appears to be nothing more than a highly divisive political ploy, distracting Indiana from focusing on our state’s real problems.”

Sherfick observed that Senate Joint Resolution 13 would, for the first time, use an amendment to Indiana’s Constitution as a tool of exclusion. The effect of this amendment is far‐reaching, threatening the access of unmarried couples to benefits such as inheritance rights, health care benefits and other legal protections for their families.

“Hoosiers across the state are already suffering from a battered economy. Our elected legislators should concern themselves with solutions to get people back to work and not passing legislation that would dampen Indiana’s recovery from the current recession” commented Josephine Hughes speaking on behalf of the National Association of Social Workers. Explaining that any distraction from the state’s stark economic situation is damaging to Hoosier families, Hughes continued “Instead of offering solutions to the real problems Indiana families are facing, proponents of Senate Joint Resolution 13 are taking time on an unnecessary and damaging amendment to our Constitution, infringing on people’s human dignity.”

The Executive Director of the Libertarian Party Indiana, Chris Spangle, urged Hoosiers across the state to join in voicing opposition to the Marriage Discrimination Amendment. “This is election year politics at its worst. Hoosiers demand real leadership from their elected officials, especially when so many struggle during these tough economic times.”

“Equality and fairness are Hoosier values” noted the Reverend Kevin Armstrong, Senior Pastor of North United Methodist Church and representative of the Interfaith Coalition on Nondiscrimination. “Discrimination of any kind should not be tolerated and certainly has no place in our state’s Constitution.”

Indiana Equality Action (IE Action), a 501(c)(4) organization, is a coalition of statewide and regional organizations. IE Action focuses on amending Indiana’s Civil Rights law to protect against discrimination based on either sexual orientation or gender identity, securing bias crimes protections, and keeping Indiana's Marriage Discrimination Amendment at bay. IE Action is the lobbying and advocacy counterpart to Indiana Equality. For more information on Indiana Equality Action please visit our website at www.indianaequalityaction.org or call 888‐567‐0750.

For More Information Contact:
Chris Becker (317) 294‐0354
Brandon Monson (801) 651‐6712

Indiana Equality Action • PO Box 20621 • Indianapolis, Indiana 46220-0621
Phone/Fax 888.567.0750 • info@indianaequalityaction.org
www.indianaequalityaction.org