'Rock Indiana' to protest gay marriage ban with $2 bills

In response to a January amendment to the Indiana Constitution banning non-traditional marriages, some Indiana residents formed the Rock Indiana Campaign for Equality and began the $2 bill campaign in protest of the resolution they say is unconstitutional. \nSenate Joint Resolution 7 (SJR7) states, "Marriage in Indiana consists only of the union of one man and one woman." It also states, "This Constitution or any other Indiana law may not be construed to require that marital status or the legal incidents of marriage be conferred upon unmarried couples or groups."\nThe proposed Amendment passed in a House Judiciary Committee with a vote of 9-3 on March 14. The State Senate approved it next by a vote of 42-8. On March 22, the Indiana House of Representatives voted to pass the proposal by a vote of 76-23.\nPepper Partin, a Rock Indiana organizer, decided at that point he needed to do something. \nRock Indiana hopes that everyone who believes in equal rights for all people will use $2 bills to pay for food, gas, movies, books and anything else they purchase to show others they are against SJR7. \n"Using $2 bills to protest is nothing new and a good way to get people's attention," Partin said. \nRock Indiana points out on their flyer that the $2 bills are unique like the people who are being discriminated against in the Amendment, yet they are still "legal and universally accepted."\nThe bills can be ordered at a bank and might take a couple of weeks to receive. They are free to order. When asked, most of the banks in Bloomington said they have not received more orders than usual for $2 bills. \nBank One, Old National and Fifth Third Banks had only received a couple orders. However, Monroe Bank had received quite a few orders.\nBusinesses around Bloomington have mixed reactions when asked if they have had $2 bills frequenting their drawers. Cashiers at several places, such as Barnes & Noble, gas stations, restaurants, Bullwinkles, Marsh and Kroger said they have not seen more $2 bills than usual.\nOther places, such as Bloomingfoods, said they have gotten some, but not many. Paul Johann, a Borders employee, said he has only received them twice, but both times in large amounts, with one customer paying a $44 bill with them.\n"I noticed they were crisp and new," Johann said. "People said they got them from the bank. I think they're beautiful. It's kind of exciting because you never see them."\nMatt Bonadies, shift manager for Panera Bread, said some customers use the $2 bills often.\n"We have a few regular customers that come in and regularly use $2 bills," Bonadies said. "We didn't know what it's about, and we didn't know there was a campaign going through. It's kind of nice to see different tender."\nEmployees at both Soma and Starbuck's have also noticed more customers paying with the tender.\nPartin said she hopes that through the campaign "people who believe in equal rights and progressive people in the state realize (Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender) people are consumers."\nIf SJR7 gets passed in its next round of legislative hearings and goes into effect, many people will begin leaving the state and looking for homes in other places where their rights are respected, according to Partin. Also, there might be more outward discrimination toward people who are GLBT. \nGroups for SJR7, such as Advance America, led by Eric Miller, say their goal is to protect the traditional American family. The organization was unavailable for comment. However, according to its Web site, "Advance America is the state's largest pro-family, pro-church, pro-private and home school, and pro-tax reform organization."\nAccording to Advance America, over 42,000 families, 1,600 businesses and 3,800 churches in Indiana belong to the group, which supports SJR7.\nThose for the Resolution speculate that if it is passed, it will keep those who are GLBT from tying up the courts for equal rights and recognition, according to Partin. However, Partin said it will tie up the courts more. For example, wills made by people giving certain medical decisions to their same-sex or otherwise non-traditionally married partner could become null and void. \nAlso, public and private businesses that offer domestic partnerships, such as IU and Eli Lilly and Co. could potentially face a law suit by someone who feels these benefits are unconstitutional. Although nothing in SJR7 makes these policies explicitly illegal, Partin said some might challenge this, leading to lawsuits. \n"I don't know what's going to come down the pike," Partin said. "We still have to go through the 128th General Assembly."\nPartin said half a million GLBT people in the state could be effected by the Resolution.\nThe $2 bill campaign will continue through Aug. 31, and the group might take it to other states if it proves successful, Partin said. \n-- Contact Staff Writer Kristen Tingley at ktingley@indiana.edu.