An Indiana Senate panel will begin
debate on a resolution that aims to ban gay marriage in the state.
The Senate Judiciary Committee is set
to consider the measure, which was approved overwhelmingly by the
House with a 70 to 26 vote late last month, on Wednesday. The Senate
has approved a similar measure in the past and the bill is expected
to face little opposition in the Republican-controlled chamber.
Voters, however, won't vote on the
proposal to alter the state constitution until 2014 at the earliest,
after a separately-elected General Assembly approves the resolution.
If approved by voters, the amendment would also ban civil unions.
Opponents of the measure will rally
against the bill at the Indiana Statehouse on Monday at 12:00PM.
The Equality for All Hoosiers
demonstration is being organized by gay rights groups Rally for
Equality and Indiana Equality.
“This is the opportunity to tell your
state legislators and all of Indiana that we will not take NO rights
for an answer,” the
groups said in a press release for the event.