Wednesday, July 10, 2013

Ind. Makes Same-Sex Marriage a Felony for Prison; Punishable by 18 Months in Prison, $10,000 Fine

As of July 1, 2014, same-sex couples applying for marriage licenses in Indiana will have committed a felony, punishable by 18 months in prison and a $10,000 fine, the Alter Net website reports today (July 10, 2013).

The new crime stems from the revival of a 1997 law forbidding false information on a marriage license as a Class D felony.

It will also make it a Class B misdemeanor -- punishable by up to 180 days in a jail and a maximum fine of $1,000 -- for clergy, judges, and others to perform a same-sex marriage.

Because Indiana marriage license forms have a space for "male applicant" and "female applicant," any same-sex couple filling out the form would automatically violate the law.

1 comment:

  1. Interesting! Sure to be challenged, but the states have sovereignty in the matter of issuing licenses.

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