Ind. Senate gallery closes after gay-wed Shouts of "Stop Hating, Stop Pandering"
The Senate president closed the Senate gallery this afternoon after the audience interrupted debate on a constitutional gay marriage ban by yelling, “stop hating, stop dividing, stop pandering.”
Senators were starting to discuss amendments to a resolution that would add a ban on gay marriage to the state’s constitution when one man in the balcony began shouting and others joined him. Senate President Pro Tem David Long then ordered the balcony seating closed. As they filed out, the roughly 40 audience members yelled “jobs not hate” — a statement on what they think the Senate’s priorities should be.
The gay-marriage ban, which also prohibits civil unions, passed the House overwhelmingly, with support from all but one Republican (Rep. Ed Clere) and support from some Democrats.
The Senate likely will vote on it later this week. The measure must be approved by a second, separately elected legislature and a popular referendum before it can be added to the constitution.
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