Statehouse undertakes Gay Marriage ban

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - Banning same-sex marriage; that’s the issue at hand for state lawmakers Monday. The Indiana House could vote on a constitutional amendment that would ban gay marriage.

Same sex marriage is against the law in Indiana but it's not in the state constitution.

Monday's vote is one of the first steps in the process to change the constitution.

The ban is getting steam because of the new GOP majority in the Indiana House and Senate. In 2005, the GOP controlled the House and Senate and passed an amendment. But, constitutional amendments must go through two separate Legislatures before being put to a public vote.

In 2006, it failed in the Democrat-controlled House.

If backers of this amendment get their way it could take up to five years to go into place.

Currently, gay marriage is legal in a handful of states: Massachusetts, Connecticut, Vermont, New Hampshire and Iowa, as well as in the District of Columbia.