A majority of Indiana residents oppose
a proposed gay marriage ban.
Republican state Representative Eric
Turner's proposed amendment limiting marriage to heterosexual couples
is expected to clear its final legislative hurdle early next year and
make its way to the 2014 ballot.
However, only 38 percent of respondents
to a WISH-TV/Ball State Hoosier Survey support the amendment, while
54 percent oppose it.
“There are more Republicans who would
like to see it in the constitution,” Ball State political scientist
Joe Losco told WISH-TV, “but Democrats and independents are
strongly against it.”
The survey found the state divided on
the question of marriage equality: 45 percent support its
legalization, and an identical 45 percent oppose the idea. Ten
percent said they were unsure.
A majority (55%) also support civil
unions for gay and lesbian couples, with 37 percent opposed.
Curt Smith, the head of the Indiana
Family Institute, a group working to approve the marriage ban,
predicted a win for his side if the amendment reaches the ballot.
“[I]f this goes on the ballot, I'm
confident we'll get a strong vote from Hoosier voters,” Smith said.
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