Voice for Equality: Cummins, Inc. of Indiana
Posted on Feb 02, 2010 at 10:00 am
Cummins, Inc. is a corporation of complementary business units that design, manufacture, distribute and service diesel and natural gas engines and related technologies, including fuel systems, controls, air handling, filtration, emission solutions and electrical power generation systems. Headquartered in Columbus, Indiana, USA Cummins serves its customers through a network of more than 500 Company-owned and independent distributor locations and approximately 5,200 dealer locations in more than 190 countries and territories. While more than 51% of Cummins' business comes from operations outside of the United States, the company remains one of the largest employers in the state of Indiana. Learn more here.As the Republican controlled Indiana state senate moved to vote 38-10 for a constitutional ban on marriage for gay couples last week, Fortune 500 member Cummins, Inc. said, "No." The CEO of Cummins sent a representative with his letter stating, "...inequity in marital status has no place in Indiana." [Link] This is not Cummins' first time weighing in on marriage equality. Back in March of 2007, when Indiana was considering a ban on the freedom to marry, an executive from Cummins Inc. said the amendment would make it harder for the big engine maker to recruit quality employees to Indiana. "Anything that makes Indiana less inclusive and less welcoming for our current employees and for our future employees makes it more difficult for Cummins to compete," said Mark Osowick, Cummins' recruiting director. "This amendment would do just that by sending a message that Indiana is not tolerant of diversity." [Link]
Freedom to Marry salutes Cummins, Inc. as a collective Voice for Equality! Learn about other Voices for Equality here.
**Make your NOMINATION for a Voice for Equality today!
Freedom to Marry Ban Goes to Indiana House Once Again
Posted on Jan 30, 2010 at 03:35 pm
WISHTV.com (Indianapolis) January 29, 2010
The Indiana state Senate passed a proposed constitutional amendment to ban marriage equality Thursday. The proposal will go to the state House, where a similar effort was previously blocked and where no action on the matter is expected this year. [Link]
Foes of Indiana Ban on Freedom to Marry Seek to Block Passage of Amendment
Posted on Jan 28, 2010 at 11:31 am
WIBC (Indianapolis) January 27, 2010
Indiana advocates of the freedom to marry are lobbying in an attempt to prevent state legislators from voting on a proposed constitutional amendment that would further ban marriage equality in the state. A senate committee passed the measure on to the full state Senate last week. [Link]
Indiana Constitutional Ban On Freedom to Marry May Not Go Far
Posted on Jan 21, 2010 at 11:24 am
The Associated Press January 21, 2010
An Indiana state Senate committee voted 6-4 on Wednesday to advance a constitutional amendment to deny marriage to gay couples. As with previous state Senate attempts to pass such legislation, the measure is unlikely to clear the House. [Link]
On the ground report from Indiana State Senate
Posted on Jan 20, 2010 at 03:47 pm
Indiana Chronicles
January 20, 2010
Tahlib reports:
I was there this morning as Indiana State Senator Greg Taylor (D)--unlike the Republican majority--battled against enshrining discrimination in the state's constitution. Even after this 6-4 loss for the freedom to marry in committee, my heart still pounds with pride as I recall one African American after another, including Taylor, speaking boldy against this discrimination. [Link]
Indiana to consider amending state constitution to ban the freedom to marry
Posted on Jan 19, 2010 at 08:29 pm
Indiana Chronicles January 19, 2010
Tahlib - 1/2 an IN Couple writes:
"On this Tuesday after MLK Day, I am reminded of why we have this annual holiday. It's because discrimination lives. Tomorrow morning, some Indiana State Senators will try to put discrimination into the state constitution." [Link]Click here to take action!
Indiana State Senate to take action on marriage amendment
Posted on Jan 16, 2010 at 03:48 pm
The BILERICO ProjectJanuary 15, 2010
A constitutional amendment to ban the freedom to marry in Indiana has been re-introduced in the state Senate and will be heard in committee next week. Similar legislation has already been introduced into the Indiana House of Representatives. [Link] Indiana residents can contact their Senate Judiciary Committee here.
Action Alert: Indiana State Senate to consider bill banning Freedom to Marry next Wednesday
Posted on Jan 15, 2010 at 09:03 am
Indiana EqualityJanuary 14, 2010
Unlike neighbor states: Ohio, Kentucky and Michigan, the state of Indiana does not have a constitutional amendment banning the freedom to marry, but that could soon change. Indiana’s Marriage Discrimination Amendment, Senate Joint Resolution 13, authored by Senator Carlin Yoder will be considered by the Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday, January 20th, 2010, at 9:00 am in the Senate Chambers at the Indiana State House. [Link] Take action HERE!
Iowa wedding announcement creates notoriety for Indiana newspaper
Posted on Jul 19, 2009 at 11:02 pm
The Iowa Independent
July 17, 2009
Management at The Elkhart Truth in Elkhart, Indiana said, "Same-sex marriage is legal in Iowa, where the couple lives and plans to marry. Since one of the young men is originally from Elkhart and his family still lives here, we did the same thing we’d do for any other local family with a child getting married — we published the couple’s engagement announcement." [Link]
July 17, 2009
Management at The Elkhart Truth in Elkhart, Indiana said, "Same-sex marriage is legal in Iowa, where the couple lives and plans to marry. Since one of the young men is originally from Elkhart and his family still lives here, we did the same thing we’d do for any other local family with a child getting married — we published the couple’s engagement announcement." [Link]
TALKING TO CO-WORKERS: Marriage matters in Indiana too
Posted on Feb 11, 2009 at 01:00 pm
Guest Blogger: Greg Disney-BrittonI climb telephone poles for AT&T, America’s number one phone company and I am just as proud of that as my non-gay co-workers. Also like my co-workers, I feel passionately about marriage. I am part of a work group in Indianapolis where all four members of our team are married, including me and we all talk about our spouses openly and with respect. Being the authentic me with my co-workers has made a big difference in my attitudes about work and it all started when I got married.
I was blessed to find the right man in my life after years of hoping, but we had to make a trip to Canada to be married. It was an awesome experience but it should not have been necessary because we should have had that right here in Indiana. However, if I had not taken the trip and had this special wedding in another country, I would never have realized how important marriage equality was to me and be able to share that with others.
That weekend, I was able to feel just like every other straight American feels on their wedding day. That feeling is so fresh in my heart and it makes me want to share it with everyone I meet. We ran into many couples on our special day in Niagara Falls, and we all wished one another well. They seemed to be all straight couples caught up in the joy of marriage. It was amazing!
I can understand Americans having a difference of opinion on the subject of marriage equality. What I can't understand is how anyone, straight or gay, thinks that marriage between a gay couple in America will make the marriage of a straight couple any less meaningful. The couples at Niagara Falls certainly didn’t and we shared in each other’s joy.
Before getting married, I didn’t talk much about being gay at work – my church, my weekend entertainment or the political issues impacting me as a gay man. Now, my co-workers hear about my real life every day just as I hear about the things that concern them. There are four of us guys on my team. We wear jeans and work-boots, and we are "the guys" called in for the big emergencies. We are a team, one gay and three non-gay, and we trust each other and respect one another’s marriages.
Yes, I climb telephone poles for AT&T but I’m also an openly “married man” with all my co-workers and that has made all the difference in the world. Thanks Marty, Ryan and Todd.
***Greg Disney works for AT&T and lives in Indianapolis. He and Tahlib were married on January 28, 2008.