The Marriage Discrimination Amendment (SJR-7) is Back!

[IndianaGreen]

Thank you Bill and Hillary Clinton for DOMA and Don't Ask-Don't Tell. I shall always remember with fondness the many times the two of you have thrown the LGBT community under the bus.

The Marriage Discrimination Amendment (SJR-7) is Back!

Senate Joint Resolution 7 (SJR-7) has been filed and is once again eligible for consideration by the Indiana General Assembly. This piece of legislation is Indiana’s infamous “Marriage Discrimination Amendment” that would take away the rights of thousands of unmarried couples throughout the state of Indiana.

Indiana Equality and its coalition partners led the successful effort to defeat SJR-7 last year, but this potentially harmful bill returns for yet another showdown in the legislature in 2008.

SJR-7 has been assigned to the Senate Judiciary Committee who will take up the bill during the month of January.

Please contact the members of the Senate Judiciary Committee (below) by phone or e-mail and urge them to "not give SJR-7 a hearing, and to concentrate on the more pressing matters of the people before them in 2008."

Senator Richard Bray, Committee Chair [email protected] [phone]

Senator Ron Alting [email protected] [phone]

Senator Jim Arnold [email protected] [phone]

Senator John Broden [email protected] [phone]

Senator Jeff Drozda [email protected] [phone]

Senator David Ford [email protected] [phone]

Senator Tim Lanane, Ranking Minority Member [email protected] [phone]

Senator Teresa Lubbers [email protected] [phone]

Senator Sam Smith, Jr. [email protected] [phone]

Senator Brent Steele [email protected] [phone]

Senator Zakas, Ranking Member [email protected] [phone]

Join us for the Third-Annual Indiana Equality Rally and Lobby Day Training

Indiana Equality has organized its annual rally to highlight issues that affect LGBT Hoosiers on Monday, February 18th, 2008 from 1:00pm – 2:30pm at the Indiana Statehouse. Join your fellow citizens as we proclaim with one voice that “Equality IS a Hoosier Value!” Details on the lobby day training will be forthcoming.

Let your voice be heard at the Indiana Statehouse.

SJR-7 is back again for another attack on Hoosiers rights. It is more important than ever to help educate your legislators on its hidden dangers. While increasing numbers of representatives are becoming aware of growing problems with “marriage discrimination amendments” passed by other states, we need your help to let them know how they can make the best decision for Indiana!

Our elected officials need to hear from each of you about the need to pass a comprehensive bias crimes bill and press to make changes to the state's Civil Rights Law to cover LGBT in employment, housing and public accommodations.

Go to www.indianaequality.org for more information on this year’s big event as it unfolds.

Donate to IE to support the fight against SJR-7

Fighting SJR-7 takes time and it takes money. The SJR-7 proponents are well funded, and we can’t afford to take the pressure off now. Please donate today by visiting our secure website.

Organized in 2003, Indiana Equality has two primary objectives – amending Indiana’s Civil Rights law to protect against discrimination based on either sexual orientation or gender identity, and ensuring that relationship protections for LGBT couples and families are not outlawed by an amendment to the State Constitution. Indiana Equality also monitors and takes action on other proposed legislation that has the potential of being harmful to the LGBT community.

[indypaul]

1. The quickest way to get the attention

of any member of the General Assembly who
favors the advancement of this legislation
is to assure they have opponents in the
primary election in May. That means Republican
and Democrat. Don't know the exact dates for
filing for these offices but anyone interested
can check the Indiana Secretary of States website
The most effective way to protect marriage and family
values would be to limit the availabilty of divorce.

[and-justice-for-all]

2. I just emailed the SJC...

and everyone on my email list.