INDIANAPOLIS — Mayor Greg Ballord signed a City-County Council resolution Friday, urging the Indiana General Assembly to defeat a proposed constitutional amendment that would ban same-sex marriage, the Indianapolis Star reported.
The mayor signed the resolution before the council passed it, which is expected to happen Monday night.
“I understand that many people hold differing views on the subject, but Indiana law already defines marriage, and I don’t see the overriding government interest in adding such an amendment to our state’s constitution,” Ballard said in a statement issued by his office, the Star reported.
The council resolution says the amendment could jeopardize local discrimination protections based on sexual orientation and gender identity, as well as domestic partner benefits for city and county employees.
It also suggests the amendment is unnecessary since Indiana courts, in 2005, upheld the current marriage law against a challenge by same-sex couples.
“This amendment would hurt our state’s well-deserved reputation for ‘Hoosier Hospitality’ and diminish our value as a business friendly location,” said a recent letter to the editor signed by the Republican and Democratic council sponsors.
If the Legislature approves the amendment, it will advance to a statewide referendum in November 2014.
