A majority of Hoosiers say using a constitutional amendment to deal with same sex marriage is the wrong course according to a new poll released Tuesday. The poll is from a group opposing Indiana’s constitutional amendment banning gay marriage.
Freedom Indiana’s poll – conducted by former Mitch Daniels-pollster Christine Matthews – says 64% of Hoosiers don’t think amending the state constitution is the right way to deal with same sex marriage.
Lawmakers must approve the constitutional amendment banning gay marriage next session for it to appear on the ballot next fall. If the marriage ban does go before voters, Freedom Indiana’s poll says 46% would oppose it, compared to 43% who would support it.
Freedom Indiana campaign manager Megan Robertson says her organization is focused on convincing lawmakers to halt the amendment’s progress. And she says while the poll will help, it won’t be able to convince legislators on its own.
“Hearing from me is not what’s going to sway these folks. It’s hearing from folks in their district who say, ‘I don’t support this amendment,’ or, further, ‘I hope you vote against this amendment and, if you do, I’m going to be there to support you.’
American Family Association of Indiana Executive Director Micah Clark says if Freedom Indiana really thought a majority Hoosiers opposed the same sex marriage ban, they wouldn’t be pressing lawmakers to oppose it.
“But the fact is they don’t want it put to a vote. They want to stop it in the legislature and prevent Hoosiers from voting on this. This issue is for the people of Indiana to decide.”
Senate Republicans met Tuesday to discuss the marriage amendment. In a statement, Senate President Pro Tem David Long said the internal discussions of his caucus are private and wouldn’t comment on the poll.