Butler University on Thursday announced
its opposition to a proposed gay marriage ban in Indiana.
“Butler University is an institution
where all people are welcome and valued, regardless of gender, sexual
orientation, religion, or ethnicity; a culture of acceptance and
inclusivity that is as old as the university itself,” said Butler
President James M. Danko.
Megan Robertson, campaign manager of
Freedom Indiana, the coalition of groups working against passage of
the amendment, welcomed Butler's announcement.
“We are grateful to Butler for
standing with Freedom Indiana and our efforts to protect all
Hoosiers,” Robertson said in a written statement. “Our
Constitution is not the place to have this conversation, and we
simply cannot afford to send the message that our state is not a
welcoming place.”
Danko said that passage of the
amendment would hinder the school's ability to compete for staff and
students.
“Continuing to attract diverse and
talented students, faculty, and staff to Butler is of the utmost
importance as we seek to provide an education that prepares our
students to succeed in a multicultural workforce and global society,”
Danko said.
Republican lawmakers, including
Governor Mike Pence, are pushing for House Joint Resolution 6 (HJR-6)
to be on next year's ballot. The measure seeks to define marriage as
a heterosexual union and prohibit civil unions as an alternative to
marriage. It sailed through the Republican-controlled General
Assembly in 2011. A needed second vote is expected to take place
early next year.
A WISH-TV/Ball State University Hoosier
Survey released earlier this month found only 38 percent of
respondents support the amendment.
(Related: Opposition
to Indiana's proposed gay marriage ban increases 4 points.)