The state of Indiana has reached a legal settlement with most of those who sued after a stage collapse at the state fair last summer, including the surviving same-sex partners of two women who were killed.
The state is paying at least $300,000 to each of the families of the seven people killed when the stage collapsed amid high winds August 13 at the state fairgrounds in Indianapolis as the band Sugarland was about to perform. It also is paying a portion of medical expenses to those injured in the accident, according to a press release from the Indiana attorney general’s office.
The attorney general’s office offered settlements to 65 claimants, and all but one accepted them. Chicago LGBT activist Christina Santiago (pictured) was one of those killed, and a $300,000 settlement will go to her wife, Alisha Brennon, Kenneth Allen, Brennon’s lawyer, told Windy City Times. Also, Brennon, who was seriously injured, will receive $114,000 toward her medical expenses, according to a list posted online by the attorney general.
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The anti-gay, politically influential Christian organization the Indiana Family Institute (IFI) has been endorsed by the State of Indiana as “collaborative partner” in administering the state’s federally funded Healthy Marriage program since 2008. This arrangement provides IFI with federal support through the Indiana Department of Child Services through 2013.
The Indiana Senate on Tuesday overwhelmingly agreed to amend the state’s constitution to ban gay marriage, the AP reported. Three Democrats crossed the aisle to join all 37 Republicans in a 40 to 10 vote.
Protesters from Jesus Metropolitan Community Church, a congregation of 400 located on the northeast side of Indianapolis, held signs reading “Would Jesus Discriminate?” and conducted a loud protest atthe Indiana Statehouse today as the Senate took a preliminary vote approving an amendment that would ban same-sex marriage and civil unions in the state.
A new poll released this morning by Indiana Equality Action shows an overwhelming shift in Hoosier’s attitudes about a proposed anti-same-sex marriage amendment. Most Indiana residents oppose the amendment and pro-LGBT measures have massive levels of support. The poll surveyed 400 registered voters and has a margin of error of 4.9% with a 95% confidence level.
A proposed constitutional amendment banning gay marriage and civil unions in Indiana is on its way to the state Senate.
The Indiana Senate is expected to vote as early as Wednesday on a resolution that aims to ban gay marriage in the state.
