13 WTHR - Indianapolis News |Indiana's gay marriage ban upheld

Indiana's gay marriage ban upheld

Chris Proffitt/Eyewitness News

Indianapolis, Jan. 20 - The administrator of a north side Indianapolis church, David Squire married his partner nearly five years ago in Vermont, at the time one of the few states performing same sex marriages.

"It's statement to the world that says, this is the one I love. This (is) who I want to be related to."

Squire and other Indiana gay couples are frustrated and disappointed at the Indiana Appeals Court ruling affirming the state's ban on gay marriage, rejecting a 1997 challenge to the law that prohibits the state from recognizing gay marriages, even those that are legal in other states.

The decision is applauded by House Republicans still planning to advance a constitutional amendment banning same sex marriage. "Today's decision makes marriage safe again," says House Speaker Brian Bosma (R - Indianapolis). "Traditional marriage safe, for the time being."

There's no decision whether to appeal the case, but House Democrats remain opposed to a state constitutional amendment banning gay marriage.

House Minority Leader Pat Bauer (D - South Bend) says, "To take the constitution of Indiana and amend it just because somebody filed a case was wrong."

According to the 2000 census, Indiana has more than 10,000 same sex couples living together.

Thursday's ruling also comes as President George W. Bush promises to make a an anti-gay marriage amendment a priority of his second term.

Still some gay couples are optimistic that attitudes and laws will change.

"It's not a redefination of family," says Squire, "it's a legal structure to cover families that already exist."

A structure that Indiana courts reject while House Republicans hope to join a growing number of states amending their constitutions banning gay marriage.