neal.mcnamara@heraldbulletin.com

ANDERSON — A family values group has launched a campaign here chastising State Rep. Terri Austin for casting a vote against a bill last session that would have let voters decide whether to ban same-sex marriage in the state.

On an Eighth Street building, the Tupelo, Mo.-based American Family Association erected a billboard that questions Austin’s support of traditional marriage.

“Who voted against protecting marriage?” reads the billboard. “Terri Austin.”

Austin, D-District 36, says the billboard is “unfortunate.” The head of the AFA’s Indiana branch says that the organization is focusing on her because prior to voting against the bill she came out against same-sex marriage.

“We put that up to remind people of how Rep. Austin voted,” said Micah Clark, head of AFA Indiana. “She may have to vote on that issue again, and we want people to know how she voted last time.”

But Austin stands by her vote. She is opposed to same-sex marriage, but voted against the bill because it may have put in jeopardy the rights of unwed domestic partners — specifically, in regard to domestic violence laws, and how employers provide insurance to employees who live in a domestic partnership.

“This amendment was not a one-issue amendment,” she said. “The second section and its wording was very controversial. Numerous legal scholars presented conflicting opinions about the meaning, the intent and the consequences of the wording.”

The second part of the bill, HRJ7, states, “ ... Indiana law may not be construed to require that martial status or the legal incidents of marriage be conferred upon unmarried couples or groups.”

The bill was created and passed in the Senate. If it were to have passed in the House, state residents would have voted on the issue this past Election Day. Since the bill was seeking to amend the state constitution, it had to pass two separately elected sessions of the General Assembly. The bill passed in 2005 and must pass again in an upcoming session before it can be brought to voters.

Austin cast the deciding vote when the bill went to the rules committee, of which she is a part, in April 2006.

The bill may be brought up in the 2008 session, according to legislators. A recent Indianapolis Star poll found more opposition to a same-sex marriage ban — 44 percent oppose the ban, up from 40 percent since a poll taken in March 2005.

Austin said that her focus in the upcoming 2008 session will be property taxes, health care and jobs, not same-sex marriage.

Austin is so far the only legislator targeted with a billboard, said Clark, although others who voted against the measure have been publicly slammed by the group via newspaper advertisements.

Jerry Alexander, who owns the building upon which the billboard is affixed, said that the group is paying about $100 per month in rent. The building happens to be the former Madison County Republican headquarters.