Civil Rights bill alive but facing a cloudy future

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) – There will be a vote in the state Senate on the civil rights bill that passed through committee Wednesday night.

That’s the word from Senate GOP Leader David Long.

It’s a bill that provides new civil rights protections for gays and lesbians but not for transgender individuals.

Sen. Long says he doesn’t know if there are enough votes in support of it to pass the Senate.

Yet Long told reporters at the Statehouse Thursday that it’s an important issue that needs to be discussed on the Senate floor.

He also made it clear that, following the testimony offered at the committee meeting, there will be no effort by majority Republicans to add protections for transgender men and women, the T in the LGBT community.

“Considering where we were a couple of years ago that’s a big step for Indiana in the right direction,” said Long, “but the ‘T’ issue is controversial, and understandably so, and one that we didn’t find enough support for and I have to say I personally have questions as well on that.”

House Speaker Brian Bosma indicated that a hearing in the House is not guaranteed if the bill gets through the Senate.

“I’ve yet to talk to someone who thinks the bill is a good idea with just a couple of exceptions,” said Bosma, “so I’m uncertain.”

The Senate debate could begin on Monday. A final Senate vote will take place no later than Wednesday.