Lambda Legal: Indiana

Indiana

Statewide Relationship Recognition
no	Licenses marriages for same-sex couples.
no	Honors marriages of same-sex couples from other jurisdictions.
no	Relationship recognition for same-sex couples: None.

1997 Anti-marriage bill adopted. House Bill 1019 introduced by Rep. Woody Burton (R). Blocked in Families, Children & Human Affairs Committee. No further action. Similar language has now been proposed by Rep. Burton as an amendment to an unrelated bill on welfare. The amendment adds a non-recognition provision to the current restriction on marriage to different-sex couples. After further manipulations of the rules, Rep. Burton succeeded in getting similar language voted out in another gutted bill. Gov. Frank O’Bannon signed the measure into law on May 13. Senate Bill 211: anti-marriage bill passed by Judiciary Committee. Failed to proceed. See Indiana Annotated Code § 31-11-1-1.

Statewide Employment Protections
no	Private employment protections based on sexual orientation.
no	Private employment protections based on gender identity.
yes	Public (state) employment protections based on sexual orientation.
-	Public (state) employment protections based on gender identity.

Statewide Parenting Laws
Who May Adopt	Any person. Ind. Stat. § 31-19-2.
Second Parent Adoptions	Approved in Adoption of K.S.P., 804 N.E.2d 1253 (Ind. Ct. App. 2004) (by partner of biological parent); Adoption of M.M.G.C., 785 N.E.2d 267 (Ind. Ct. App. 2003) (by partner of adoptive parent)