Lawmakers’ Son Terrible Upset at Dad’s Role Opposing Son’s View on Gay Rights

The same-sex marriage debate divides not only the Indiana House of Representatives but also the house of a key lawmaker.

Rep. Milo Smith, a Columbus republican, chaired the Elections Committee last week that approved the proposed gay marriage ban for consideration by the full house.

Smith’s committee was assigned the ban after it became obvious to GOP leaders that the proposal would fail in the House Judicial Committee.

This weekend Chris Smith, posting from California, wrote that as a gay son he disagrees with his father and his support of the ban.

“I’m not here to badmouth my dad,” Smith wrote on the Indiana Equality Facebook site. “I’m terribly disappointed in his decision and beliefs, but he’s not going to change them now if he hasn’t after all these years of knowing I am gay.”

Rep. Smith told Fox 59 News he wants to make it clear how much he loves and accepts his son.

“Of all people to get this it would be me with having a son that’s gay and I love my son,” he said.

Smith said father and son had no notable debates over Indiana’s proposed ban on same-sex marriage.

“I think we had a discussion about this a couple of years ago but I honestly don’t remember.”

After Smith chaired the debate that sent the proposed constitutional ban to the entire House for consideration, he told Fox 59 News that he hopes the discourse dividing Hoosiers will remain civil.

“After this comes out, if the governor signs it, I hope that we’ll do that through the summer, through the election, and no one will attack anyone based upon their personal opinion regardless what side of the issue they’re on.”

If the House passes the proposed constitutional ban, state voters will be allowed to decide the issue in fall elections.

Indiana promises to be a battleground in the debate as other states and Indiana’s business community continue to back away from the ban.

Family Research County Action, a conservative national lobbying group, will hold a news conference at 9 a.m. Monday to advise lawmakers on its support of the ban.

By Jill Disis , jill.disis@indystar.com

The gay son of an Indiana lawmaker who played a key role in advancing a same-sex constitutional ban onto the House floor last week is now speaking out against his father.

Chris Smith, the 43-year-old son of Rep. Milo Smith, R-Columbus, posted Saturday on Facebook that he was "terribly disappointed" in his father's "decision and beliefs."

Milo Smith chairs the Elections and Apportionment Committee in the House, which passed HJR-3 by a 9-3 vote last week. The full House may take up the issue as early as Monday.

Milo Smith voted in favor.

"I know he loves me. That's important," Chris Smith said in an interview with The Indianapolis Star on Sunday. "But I'm just upset that he is voting the way he is."

Chris Smith, who now lives in Culver City, Calif., said he posted the message on Indiana Equality's Facebook page to support his Hoosier friends.

Indiana Equality is an anti-HJR-3 group that promotes marriage rights for LGBT individuals.

Milo Smith did not respond to interview requests Sunday night. His son said he did not talk to his father after last week's decision and has not talked to him since the Facebook post went up.

"I'm really torn right now. Personally, I don't think I'm going to change his mind whatsoever," Chris Smith said.

Chris Smith said he has a good relationship with his father and talks to him on the phone at least a few times a year. Chris Smith said his father recently suggested a family reunion and invited his son's partner of 13 years to come along.

"My dad is a really nice guy. I've never heard him talk bad about anybody," Chris Smith said.