The Fort Wayne Journal Gazette has a good editorial on the Health Finance Committee’s draft legislation which, among other things, prohibits physicians from assisting infertile patients with conceiving children by means of specified procedures if those patients are not married. Furthermore, married couples would have to get state approval for intrauterine insemination, in vitro fertilization or other procedures.
Emboldened by the progress they’ve made in banning gay marriage, the Indiana General Assembly’s social engineers are seeking to make it harder for gay men, lesbians and single Hoosiers to become parents. With an ill-considered bill, they would also throw roadblocks before infertile married couples seeking medical assistance in starting a family.
The Health Finance Commission will vote on the proposed legislation Oct. 20. While the panel’s “yes†vote won’t ensure its passage in the 2006 session, the bill will undoubtedly send a message that Indiana is an intolerant state. It should be soundly rejected.
The fear that even considering this legislation would give Indiana the reputation as an intolerant state (something it already has, I fear) echoes some thoughts over at sneer.org suggesting that it is this sort of silliness that leads to the flight of the creative class from a place. The next time we see someone wringing their hands over Indiana’s brain drain, we might suggest putting a leash on the social conservatives who help create a climate where such people are unwilling to stay. Elitism you say? Well, fine. I’m comfortable suggesting that Indiana would be better if America’s elite minds resided in Indiana instead of elsewhere.
Update Thanks to Mr. Kemp for the pointer to BoingBoing noting that, under the proposed legislation, Christ’s conception would have been illegal.
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