Indy Chamber Opposes HJR-6

The Indianapolis Chamber of Commerce is taking a stand against a proposal that would rewrite the state constitution to define marriage as only between a man and a woman.

Chamber president Michael Huber says the amendment is a distraction from economic and workforce development challenges.

He believes if the General Assembly approves the proposal, it will have a negative impact on the city’s business climate.

"Writing what we consider to be discriminatory language into the Indiana Constitution would really fly in the face of our economic development efforts, specifically our efforts to show people that Indiana is a welcoming place," said Huber.  "We want people to be moving here, not just from the east and west coasts, but from all over the world."

Huber says the city is getting younger as baby-boomers begin to retire and is seeing a shift toward the workforce being more accepting of same sex relationships.

"I think people would start to think about 'well what would (HJR-6) look like, people spending a lot of money and advertisements and resources on both sides of the issue,'" he said.  "I just really think - and our members really think - it sends the wrong message about our state."

The amendment was approved in 2011.  If lawmakers vote in favor again, the proposed constitutional change will be placed on the November 2014 ballot.

"I think public opinion is shifting incredibly quickly on this issue and that's motivating more people to get involved and saying 'do we really want to go down this road,'" said Megan Robertson, manager of Freedom Indiana, a bipartisan group opposing HJR-6.  

"While most of the country is moving towards equality, do we want to be moving in this direction and kind of planting a flag that certain people aren't welcomed here in Indiana?  I think most Hoosiers are saying that is not what we want to be about,"  said Robertson.