Council urges rejection of marriage amendment

The Indianapolis City-County Council voted 22-6 on Monday night to pass a resolution urging the Indiana General Assembly to reject the proposed same-sex marriage amendment.

City-County Resolution 354, co-sponsored by Democrats John Barth, Angela Mansfield and Zach Adamson, and Republican Benjamin Hunter, received support from 15 Democrats and seven Republicans. Six Republicans voted against it.

The resolution says the amendment isn't needed because same-sex marriage is already prohibited by law in Indiana. It also says it would harm Indiana's efforts to attract talented people to the state.

A number of higher education and business groups have spoken out in recent weeks, expressing opposition to altering Indiana’s constitution.

State lawmakers will begin considering the same-sex marriage ban in January. Supporters of limiting marriage to one man and one woman say a constitutional amendment is needed to keep the courts from legalizing gay marriage in Indiana.

Lawmakers began the lengthy process of placing the ban in the constitution in 2011. The ban won overwhelming support from Democrats and Republicans last time around.

If state lawmakers sign off a second time on the legislation, it would be placed on the ballot for voters to consider next November.

Thirty states have constitutional amendments banning legal recognition of same-sex marriage and five others ban it by law.

Mayor Greg Ballard, a Republican, signed the resolution Friday.