Hoosiers speak up about President Obama's stance on gay marriage

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - Some Hoosiers spent Wednesday taking in the news, after President Obama made the announcement that he supports gay marriage.

24-Hour News 8 looked into the personal and political impacts of the announcement here in Indiana.

Jeff Jones and Scott Trout of Indianapolis have been together for 17 years. They went to Vermont right after the state made it legal for same-sex couples to apply for civil unions a number of years ago, and made it official.

But they’re hoping to someday be recognized in Indiana.

“I think people take for granted what marriage means. It’s more than just the commitment that we have to each other,” Jeff Jones said. “We have to carry legal documents with us everywhere we go to show that we can speak on each other’s behalf if one of us would be incapacitated. Straight couples don’t have to do that.”

Jones and Trout say they’re pleased the President made his opinion known, and are excited for the future. At the same time, they say they’re hoping for more.

“This country is supposed to be founded on the principles of equality for all, so it's about time we had equality for all,” said Jones.

But not everyone agrees.

“I am shocked and saddened that President Obama would come out in support of homosexual marriages for the United States of America,” said Eric Miller, founder of Advance America in Indianapolis.

He supports marriage between a man and a woman only, adding, “What he's saying is that homosexuality is acceptable and normal. And for the vast majority of Hoosiers, and of people, they see it as a lifestyle that is detrimental to children, families and our future.”

What is clear, is that same-sex marriage may be more important come November in Indiana, because of the President taking a clear side.

“What the president has done, is brought this to the forefront, now the candidates for US Senate and Congress will now address where they stand,” added Miller.

Rick Sutton, with Indiana Equality Action, told 24-Hour News 8 the President’s decision was monumental and historical. “We don’t know yet, how it will affect here [in Indiana], but we're just glad he's doing it,” said Sutton.

Tuesday night, the same-sex marriage debate revved up when North Carolina voters approved a ban.

The constitutional amendment, there, defines marriage as a union between a man and woman.

Here in Indiana, both the state Senate and House approved a ban on same sex marriage in 2011.

But, the ban faces two major hurdles.

First, both houses in the next elected General Assembly must vote again and approve the measure.

If that happens, then, Hoosier voters will have their say in a referendum.

Right now, only six states, all in the northeast -- except Iowa -- allow same sex marriages.