To the Editor:

The Indiana House of Representatives' Rules and Legislative Procedures Committee voted April 3 and defeated Senate Joint Resolution 7 (SJR-7), an attempt to enshrine discrimination into the State Constitution.

If ratified, SJR-7 would have meant the loss of domestic partner benefits, a loss of protections for victims of domestic violence, and a loss of child and elder care rights for thousands of Hoosiers. It would have also seriously affected Hoosier families by damaging the State's economy. Likewise, it would have crippled corporate recruitment efforts and would have accelerated the already problematic Indiana "brain drain."

Thanks go out to the thousands and thousands of fellow Hoosiers who stood up for equality under the law. Thanks too, to the numerous organizations and companies who voiced their opposition to SJR-7. They include the IU Faculty Council and major employers, such as Emmis Communications, Cummins, Dow AgroScience, WellPoint, and Eli Lilly and Company. And of course, thanks go out to the brave Committee members who stood for liberty and equality by defeating SJR-7.

Thank you for doing the right thing!