> SOUTHERN INDIANA — The line in the sand has been drawn and the debate rages on.

In a week that saw President Barack Obama come out in support of same sex marriage, and North Carolina voters overwhelmingly in support of an amendment to thestate constitution that would prevent gays from marrying, the issue has been brought to the forefront of political discussion.

As Americans prepare to elect a president in six months, opinions on same sex marriage are being published and broadcast across the nation.

But locals in Clark and Floyd counties have also weighed in on the issue.

“Folks are in different spots on this. Everyone has an opinion,” said St. Marks United Church of Christ Pastor John Manzo. “One of the things we all have to do is approach this subject with a great deal of humility. It’s hard to believe that anyone knows God’s will. We are all on a journey trying to discover God’s will.”

Manzo said the United Church of Christ, as a denomination, supports gay marriage, and he does as well.

“Personally I am for it, but I am not speaking for everybody in my church,” he said. “When President Obama made the statement, people often forget his background is with the United Church of Christ. The issues with North Carolina is they not only banned gay marriage, but civil unions and domestic partnerships as well. That might infringe on their civil rights.”

While the United Church of Christ supports gay marriage, the Catholic Church does not. Rev. Eric Augenstein with Our Lady of Perpetual Help in New Albany, said the Catholic Church’s view on marriage has not and will not change.

“As for the Catholic Church, it defines marriage as an institution between one man and one woman,” he said. “Part of it is when you go to find the truth and what sources you use. Some people look at experience while others look to feelings. As Catholics we look at scripture and tradition. We don’t look into ourselves, but to scripture.”

Augenstein said Catholic leaders are concerned with possible legislation that would force all religious institutions to celebrate any and all wedding ceremonies.

Just as the the issue is a hot-button topic nationally and in religious circles,  many local residents have a well-defined opinion on the matter, too.

For Rhonda Bertrand, 50, of Clarksville, she said the issue affects some people who are close to her.

“I have relatives who are gay and got married in Holland,” Bertrand said. “I wouldn’t want to begrudge [gay people] from anything that anyone else has.”

Tony Watkins, 54, of New Albany, said he thought gay and straight people should be allowed to share some of the same life experiences through marriage.“I think it’s great,” Watkins said. “They should have to suffer like the rest of us men do.”

Jake Kaufman, 26, of New Albany, said if straight people don’t have restrictions on who they can marry, gay people should be afforded the same right.

“Whatever they want to do is fine with me,” Kaufman said. “I don’t really have an opinion on it one way or the other. No one’s telling me who I can and can’t marry. Why should I tell them?”

Dedra Borden, 35, of New Albany, said the idea of gay marriage may not sit well with some religions, but doesn’t think gay people should have that discrimination against them.

“I don’t criticize or judge them,” Borden said. “If people think it’s wrong or right by the Bible, then I don’t think it’s right. But this is America, and that would be like a violation of their rights. We’ve seen enough of that.”

Dylan Kidwell is the president-elect for IU Southeast’s Gay-Straight Alliance for the next school year said his group was happy to hear the president’s stance on the issue.

“A bunch of poeple in our group are very excited about it,” Kidwell said. “We’re glad President Obama has come out in favor of marriage equality.”

But aside from how people feel, the topic also has ramifications in the political sphere.

Joe Wert, Indiana University Southeast Dean of Social Sciences, said he doesn’t think Obama’s announcement will help him politically as he seeks re-election.

“I don’t see an upside of this for Obama. People who are on that side would probably support him anyway,” Wert said.

He said Obama’s likely opponent in November, Republican Mitt Romney, who opposes same sex marriage, may benefit from the president’s statement.

“He [Romney] may pick up support from Hispanic groups and this may energize social conservatives who were lukewarm to Romney,” Wert said. “I think Romney would stand to gain from this politically more than Obama.”

Bertrand said she thought Obama’s stance on gay marriage would have an effect on voters headed to the polls in November. She said for her, it will matter when she casts a ballot.

“I think everybody should be treated equally and that gay people have just as much right to be married as [straight people] do,” Bertrand said.

Kidwell said just as any other issue in an election season, he hopes voters will research the topic of gay marriage before they make a vote.

“We just hope that people come with an open mind and realize it’s an issue that affects everyone,” Kidwell said. “But it’s also a good issue to talk about and be educated on before you make a false assumption on it.”



Staff writer Jerod Clapp contributed to this story.