Government-inspiried debates over the rights and wrongs of gay marriage are old news to Americans. We've been indited with stories, arguments and cases for and against constitutional amendments banning same-sex marriages from taking place. In 2004, the issue took its toll on the presidential election ballot as one of the term's hot topics. All the while, a steady amount of court hearings and decisions were made in various cities across the country, leaving some angered and others joyous.
Now months later, Capitol Hill lawmakers continue to battle as states continue their own struggles with morality and legality.
That struggle has now taken center stage right here in Indiana.
Tuesday, a Senate committee pushed forward a resolution that would put a state constitutional ban on gay marriage. Unbeknownst to most citizens, gay marriage is already illegal in Indiana. According to Indiana Code 31-11-1-1, "Only a female may marry a male. Only a male may marry a female." And "a marriage between persons of the same gender is void in Indiana, even if the marriage is lawful in the place where it is solemnized."
What good, then, would this constitutional ban do here in the state? Simply put, it would further solidify the state's stance on gay marriage, making the issue and any related rulings extraordinarily hard to overrule. So, despite the law already in place, the situation could be significantly worse for those who would be affected by the ban.
Ultimately, this issue will be at the hands of Indiana voters in 2008 if the resolution clears the General Assembly and Legislature in the coming years. It may seem like a non-issue to many residents now, but may become one of the most controversial referendums this state has ever seen.
That said, there are a few questions state officials (and eventually voters) should consider. For many, the effects of a constitutional ban go beyond just the ability to wed.
How would health benefits be affected if gay marriage were allowed? Would adoption policies change? What about those "family memberships" to organizations and stores?
There may not be simple answers, if any, to these questions right now. We are not here to answer these questions, merely just to bring them, and numerous others, into light.
All the more reason for voters and lawmakers to start considering the situation from every angle possible.
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