Storming the Statehouse

Forty years after Indiana repealed its anti-interracial marriage legislation on the basis of race discrimination, Hoosiers might soon vote to support or deny legislation banning marriage by same-sex couples. \nAdvance America, a conservative grassroots network self-described as "pro-family and pro-church," held a rally for traditional marriage Tuesday in the Indiana Statehouse rotunda.\nSenate Bill SJR7, a proposal to amend Indiana's Constitution to deny same-sex couples the opportunity to enter into any institution of "marriage" or "civil union," was approved by Hoosier senators 42-8 Feb. 21. \nAdvance America Founder Eric Miller, who unsuccessfully campaigned for the 2004 Republican Governor nominee against Gov. Mitch Daniels, organized the rally "in support of an amendment to the Indiana Constitution to ban same-sex marriages and civil unions," according to a rally flier.\n"You have a speaker of the House who does support marriage between one man and one woman," Miller said to the participants gathered three-stories high in the Statehouse rotunda. "We must amend the Constitution to protect marriage in this state."\nAdvance America claims its organization represents 42,000 families, 1,600 businesses and more than 3,800 churches around the state, according to its Web site.\nIn addition to demonstrators, children as young as two, bussed from Indiana parochial schools, held up signs displaying slogans such as "God hates fags." \nHouse Speaker Rep. Brian Bosma (R-Indianapolis) called on all Hoosiers to protect the cornerstone of American society -- the institution of marriage -- and he said traditional marriage "matters to traditions, religious beliefs, society and children." \nBosma said "studies" show a two-parent family, one mother and one father, is the "safest, securest and soundest." Bosma did not cite specific studies. He led a Republican walkout in the House, about this time last year, in protest of then-House Speaker Pat Bower's (D-South Bend) refusal to debate banning marriage for same-sex couples in the state.\nIf the House votes in support of SJR7 during the second legislative session, the Senate bill will face a second round of legislative scrutiny as early as 2007-2008. If both the Senate and House vote in favor of the bill at that time, Indiana voters will ultimately decide the fate of marriage for same-sex couples throughout the state. \nBosma said the House is prepared to debate and vote on SJR7 as early as next week.\nMeanwhile, counterprotesters gathered on the Statehouse front steps during a mid-day snowstorm to rally against "the hate debate" -- specifically Miller and SJR7, according to a rally flier. "Rock Indiana!," held by state advocates of marriage for same-sex couples, included speakers offering personal testimony about sexual orientation discrimination and motivational speeches encouraging Hoosiers to stand up for the rights of their neighbors. \nSen. Vi Simpson (D-Bloomington), one of the eight Democratic senators who voted in opposition of the bill, said she spoke from her heart to the counterprotesters. She said she told the crowd she has been happily married for fifteen years, and never once has she or her husband felt threatened by same-sex couples or their prospect for marriage. \n"I just met with a group of young people (from IU) who asked me: 'why is this happening to us?'," she said. "I don't know what to say; It's a sad day really. I feel we are using people's fears to go backward when society grows and expands itself."\nIndianapolis residents Stephanie Mineart and Stephanie Koutek, a same-sex couple wishing to marry, said they believe homophobia and insecurity about oneself contribute to misperceptions about same-sex couples and their individual reasons for wanting to wed.\n"I think (the Advance America ralliers) are afraid of gay people," Mineart said. "I think they can rationalize however they want; they are trying to write discrimination into the Constitution."\nKoutek agreed with her partner.\n"We are not threatening people or straight marriage," Koutek said. "I'm happy for straight people -- straight people who are married. Everyone who is in love should be able to get married."\n2004 IU graduate Amanda Peterson, who attended the counterprotest with several IU students, said she felt inspired by Simpson's words.\n"I agree with (Simpson), time will fix this. History is repeating itself, but we are on the right side of history," Peterson said. "I just hope people open their eyes. This legislation is discriminatory. I think we made our point; I think people are starting to listen."\nParticipants pumped their fists and displayed hand signals indicating the crowd was "No. 1." Ralliers hollered "Amen," "that's right," "moms and dads" and "USA" before singing "God Bless America" to close the event. \nCounterprotesters confronted the ralliers inside the Statehouse with chants that included: "What do we want? -- justice; when do we want it? -- now," "fight hate," "God loves gays," "gay and proud," "love over hate" and "equal rights."\nSimpson said the civil rights struggles of the 1960s and 1970s proved young people with a public voice can fight for civil rights, women's rights and environmental protections.\n"I do believe SJR7 is more philosophically than politically motivated -- a philosophical belief homosexuality is a sin or same-sex marriage is damaging to society since it does not encourage procreation," Simpson said. "I would like to see a society that is more tolerant of change and difference -- a society that believes in loving one another equally -- in a democracy that protects rights and liberties ... However, I realize that is my philosophy."\nHoosiers can contact their state representative at 1-800-382-9842 to voice their personal opinion about SJR7. \n-- Contact City & State Editor David A. Nosko at dnosko@indiana.edu.