INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - A proposed constitutional amendment to ban same-sex ''marriage'' advanced out of the Republican-controlled Senate Monday after little debate.
The resolution passed 39-10 and now heads to the House, which Democrats control 51-49.
For the amendment to become official, it would have to pass the General Assembly this year or next without any changes, and then be approved in a statewide vote in the 2008 general election.
''By passing this amendment, we give voters the right to decide whether the definition of marriage should be preserved in its traditional form,'' said Sen. Brandt Hershman, R-Wheatfield. ''I trust Hoosiers to make the decision.''
Hershman and other proponents say the amendment is needed to protect the sanctity of traditional marriage from lawsuits and activist judges. But opponents say the proposal is discriminatory and could have unintended consequences on laws and policies that affect all unmarried couples.
The amendment has two sections, the first saying that marriage in Indiana is solely the union of one man and one woman. The second says that the state constitution or state law cannot be construed to provide the benefits of marriage on unmarried couples or groups.
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