This story has been edited from its original version to reflect that the bill to ban same sex marriage in Indiana must pass a statewide referendum vote in 2013 or 2014 in order to become an amendment to the state constitution. In addition, members of the state legislature are elected on even-number years, not in this year's election.
Late Friday, New York's state senate voted to legalize gay marriage.
In just one vote, the amount of same-sex couples legally allowed to marry in the United States doubled.
It couldn't have come at a better time.
The vote gave an already proud population even more to celebrate during LGBT Pride Week. Most Pride parades were on Sunday, and news that their brothers and sisters in New York were able to legally marry only made the celebrations more extravagant.
Still, there is a lot of ground to cover. Sure, the vote is a big moment in history. But there are still 44 states that do not allow same-sex marriage, and many of them have taken the extra step to ban it even if it is protected by a federal amendment.
One of those states? You guessed it, Indiana. Though the amendment is not on the books quite yet, it is only a few steps away from becoming a permanent law in Indiana.
Personally, I think this is ridiculous. Limiting the freedom of a person just because they like someone of the same sex is unconstitutional and a grave misstep by our state. But I'm just a student writing for a college newspaper, so of course my opinions are going to skew left.
This issue is not one taken lightly. Both religion and personal freedom play a part in this debate. But even as a Republican and Roman Catholic, I believe love is love. If someone is born to love another member of their sex, then I believe they should have the right to do so.
Similar opinions were held during the early stages of our nation regarding interracial marriages. I just wish this part of the country would open their eyes and step into the 21st century, as New York did Friday.
If the Indiana General Assembly were to pass the bill to ban same sex marriage in 2013 or 2014, it would then go to a statewide referendum vote. The referendum would have to pass for the bill to become an amendment in the constitution. In addition, members of the state legislator are elected on even-number years, not in this year's election.
While this seems a long way off, the ability to change the landscape is much more immediate. Next year's elections will include members of the legislation that would vote on the proposal in 2013 or 2014.
Two years is not a very long time. But maybe that's just my old age getting to me.
This leaves the fate of happiness and freedom of many Hoosiers, quite literally, in our hands. If we vote for those who support a permanent ban on gay marriage, there's little chance that freedom will be realized.
What will be even more harmful, though, are those who don't vote. Whether you support or oppose gay marriage (or any other political issue), go register to vote. I realize I can't change your mind about the issue. What I can ask you to do is act.
Though we may not be voting on the issue directly, you and I will be putting people in office that will make the decision to either push this amendment one step further or strike it down.
I know I'm just a liberal arts student with a strong opinion, but I plan to make that opinion heard, and I hope you do too.
And please, if you're going to argue against gay marriage, don't use religion as part of your debate. There's a part of The Constitution which seems to be overlooked in this issue: separation of church and state.
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