Indiana Democratic Party platform opposes anti-gay constitutional amendment

June 15, 2012

This week, the political parties in Indiana have made adjustments to their views on the freedom to marry in their party platforms. Both parties are moving away from marriage discrimination and taking small steps toward supporting the freedom for all couples to marry. 

The Democratic Party in Indiana now officially has a plank in the platform to specifically oppose a constitutional amendment that would ban marriage and civil unions for same-sex couples. Every year since 2004, the Indiana state legislature has proposed or voted on a constitutional amendment that would define marriage as a relationship between one man and one woman. Fortunately, the amendment has never advanced. In previous years, Indiana's Democratic Party has ignored the amendment, taking no stance.

The plank's proposed language reads:

The Indiana Democratic Party is proud of our longstanding commitment to and support for civil rights and equality. As the party of the people, we strongly oppose restriction of opportunity to Hoosiers based on their race, religion, ethnicity, gender, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or economic background. The Indiana Democratic Party opposes amending the Indiana Constitution to define marriage. 

The Indiana Republican Party also changed its platform's marriage position. Since 2006, the platform has stated the party's opposition to allowing same-sex couples to marry, but this year, the platform does not include a plank supporting the amendment.  

Although neither of the official party platforms voices support for the freedom to marry, each party has taken a small step forward in the conversation about marriage. The changes to the platforms are representative of the growing support around the country for the freedom to marry. Each time someone turns away from discrimination or stands up for the freedom to marry, they chip away at the roadblocks barring same-sex couples from sharing in loving and committed legal marriages. Freedom to Marry applauds the Indiana political parties for their new stances and urges them to continue moving forward toward full, outright support for the freedom to marry.