Jon Murray

jon.murray@indystar.com

Advocates fighting for and against HJR3, Indiana's proposed amendment to ban same-sex marriage, are amping up the pressure this week as legislators mull their next move.

Gov. Mike Pence will lend his support to the amendment by attending a luncheon organized by advocates Thursday.

But first, today anti-amendment coalition Freedom Indiana is organizing a community meeting for 7 p.m. at the Garrison Conference Center and Restaurant in Lawrence -- which just happens to be a stone's throw from House Speaker Brian Bosma's district.

The group is asking its supporters to flood the meeting "to show Speaker Bosma that we stand against the amendment and to ask him to not interfere with the legislative process in committee."

Bosma and his fellow Republicans are working out how to proceed on the amendment, called House Joint Resolution 3, after an unexpected delay in the Judiciary Committee's vote last week. Many believe the vote was delayed because supporters didn't have the votes to get the measure out of committee, with lobbying pressure focusing on three undecided Republicans.

Bosma won't rule out replacing committee members to bring the measure to the House floor, drawing the ire of amendment opponents. A spokeswoman confirmed he had no plans to attend Freedom Indiana's rally.

On Thursday, Pence, a fan of HJR3, will be keynote speaker at the Faith and Community Leader Legislative Luncheon. That's a free event for invitees that is put on by the Indiana Family Institute and the Indiana Pastors Alliance at the Westin Hotel in Downtown Indianapolis.

During last week's State of the State address, Pence called on the General Assembly to settle the debate over HJR3 this year.

Among speakers at the luncheon will be the Rev. Ron Johnson Jr., a pastoral leader who has become an outspoken advocate for the amendment and who was featured in The Star's story Sunday that presented supporters and their case for the amendment.

A companion story reported on the case against the amendment.