People on both sides of the debate over Indiana’s proposed same sex marriage ban amendment spoke passionately for hours in front of a packed House chamber yesterday.
The amendment is making its first legislative stop in a House committee.
The House Judiciary Committee audience was a sea of red – that’s the color opponents of the marriage amendment known as HJR-3 chose to wear. Those who testified before the committee in opposition to the amendment were from a diverse background – there were leaders from Indiana’s business and faith communities, legal experts and average citizens. One of those citizens is Jeremy Wentzel, a senior at Wabash College. Wentzel, who is gay, also says he’s conservative – and as he decides where to live after college, he says the marriage amendment is weighing heavily on his mind.
But there are those in the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community who don’t agree with Wentzel. Reen Gutgsell, who came out as a lesbian in the ‘60s, says she’s also a Catholic. She says denying same sex marriage is about upholding moral truths and traditions important for the good of society.
The committee chairman chose not to take a vote on the marriage ban amendment Monday, saying he wants to give committee members time to digest the testimony.
