Sjr7

ARTICLE 1 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF INDIANA IS AMENDED BY ADDING A NEW SECTION TO READ AS FOLLOWS:

Section 38. (a) Marriage in Indiana consists only of the union of one man and one woman.

(b) 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.

This bill advanced yet another step today. How the hell is this happening?!

There's not like this bill has any positive effects, other than making bigotry a law. But wait! Indiana already HAS a ban on gay marriage. Really, this doesn't affect gay marriage at all, and therefore part a is completely and totally redundant.

But let's not stop there. Part B is really the important part of this bill, because what it does is, essentially, fuck everyone in the state of Indiana.

Do you know what qualifies as "the legal incidents of marriage"? Me either. It's too vague. And this bill can only harm the state. It's been proven by the similar bills passed in states such as Michigan and Ohio.

This amendment to the constitution affects people who are single, who are elderly, who are living with a roommate, who are engaged but not yet married, the sick, everyone.

This amendment will RUIN the economy of Indiana, which is one reason why over 30 major corporations in Indiana have publicly opposed the bill. It makes domestic partnership benefits ILLEGAL which takes away one good reason to stay in Indiana, for those who may be attached but not yet married.

SJR7 makes domestic assault cases only apply to married couples. If a man and woman happen to be living together, and the man decides one night to beat the shit out of the woman (or vice versa), and the police are called, the event would have to be filed as an assault and battery case, which does NOT have the same rights as a domestic abuse case. For example, the involved parties don't have the right to immediate removal of one party or separate attorneys.

Hospital visitation benefits are also considered a "right of marriage."

I could rant about what an awful bill this is all day, but I feel like I should restrain myself.

You can read a (granted, biased) description of what effects this bill can have at stoptheamendment.org.

If ANYONE knows of a good reason to pass this bill, dear God, comment or message me. It doesn't make any damn sense to me.