Indiana's Senate Republican leader says the state took a "big step forward" in th e LGBT rights debate this year. But the House Democratic Leader calls LGBT rights the "great failure" of the session.
An LGBT rights bill died before it got a vote on the Senate floor this session. It didn't even make it to the House.
Senate GOP Leader David Long, R-Fort Wayne, says the debate was educational for his chamber, and the House now needs that same education.
Long says as more local communities enact their own LGBT rights measures, it will put more pressure on the legislature.
"As that evolves, I think it'll be easier for the state to consider saying, ‘Well, maybe just one law makes sense, rather than 50 different ones.'"
House Democratic Leader Scott Pelath, D-Michigan City, says he thinks his Republican counterparts in the House are ready for a full debate on LGBT rights next session, particularly in a non-election year.
"I believe that there's a lot of Republican members who would like to vote for LGBT rights."
And House Speaker Brian Bosma, R-Indianapolis, says some LGBT rights discussions took place internally in his caucus this session and would only say he's "sure they'll continue in the future."