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Same-sex rights could be hot topic during 2016 Indiana session

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Indiana lawmakers don’t debate legislation for a few months, but there’s one topic already getting the attention of Hoosiers.

On Tuesday, State Senate Democratic Leader Tim Lanane detailed plans to ban same-sex discrimination.

“I think it should be with our legislation stuff,” Indianapolis resident Richard Evans said. “It should be.”

Others disagreed.

“They should be focusing on a lot of other things that’s going around,” Indianapolis resident Angela Andrews said.

Lanane says with certain cities across the state passing this type of legislation, it’s clear the state needs to give direction.

“The funny thing is, one could get up in the morning protected in one city, travel perhaps to your work, in another city, where you could be fired without any type of recourse,” Lanane said.

While democrats are prepared to focus on this in 2016, that’s not the case for Republicans. GOP leaders on Tuesday told WISH-TV their focus is on roads and hiring teachers.

“There’s no doubt that we’ll be talking about the civil rights statute and other issues,” Indiana House Speaker Brian Bosma said. “I would not put that as the most important issue that faces every Hoosier in the state.”

While it might be an uphill battle for the minority party, Lanane says after the religious freedom discussion last session, this needs to get done.

“I think unfortunately we sent the wrong message last year, and it’s going to take a while to repair that and this would be a bold move for us to show for the rest of the country, and the world, that Indiana does not discriminate,” State Sen. Lanane said.