ACLU of Indiana Will Remain Vigilant on HJR-3

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CONTACT: 212-549-2666, media@aclu.org

Indianapolis – The American Civil Liberties Union and the ACLU of Indiana are proud to be founding partners in Freedom Indiana’s historic victory in the Indiana General Assembly to prevent the anti-freedom amendment, HJR-3, from going to a statewide ballot in 2014.

The Indiana Senate chose not to reinsert a provision in the measure, a second sentence that would have banned civil unions and other legal status “identical or substantially similar to that of marriage” in Indiana. The earliest any measure banning marriage could be on the ballot is 2016.

The ACLU and ACLU of Indiana would have preferred that the Senate vote the measure down entirely, but the Senate’s actions today, which prevent a divisive referendum in 2014, represent a significant step in respecting the rights of all Hoosiers.

“In the course of this campaign we have seen hearts and minds open up to the idea that the Indiana Constitution is a sacred, clear and timeless document that should never be used to limit rights,” said ACLU of Indiana Executive Director Jane Henegar. “While we celebrate today’s victory we are mindful that Indiana still has far to go in respecting the rights and dignity of our LGBT neighbors, and we will remain vigilant as the session progresses.”

Henegar added, “Mothers and fathers, sisters and brothers, churches and businesses, neighbors and coworkers have joined together in this campaign in defense of freedom. The ACLU will remain in the fight until all people enjoy the full protections of fairness and equality guaranteed by our Constitution.”

“The successful effort to keep a ban against marriage equality out of the constitution of the state of Indiana is a step forward for loving and committed couples everywhere,” said Selene Kaye, ACLU National Marriage Campaign Manager. “We hope that, as more and more Americans, and Hoosiers, continue to support marriage equality, and as efforts to remove constitutional bans continue to advance in other states, that legislators in Indiana choose to embrace the direction the country is moving as well.”