Bloomington Couple Stops in Warsaw with Gay Marriage Message

July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.

By Jennifer [email protected]

Bloomington couple Philip and Ruth Ann Cooper are traveling 1,500 miles across Indiana.

The Coopers’ goal is to discuss a proposed ban on gay marriage and civil unions that could be written into Indiana’s Constitution.

Philip, 61, is riding on a ElliptiGo. It is an elliptical machine that has been converted to a work-out machine on wheels.

He purchased the bicycle  at a Greenwood fitness center.

Philip uses the bike to start conversations with people he comes across.

There is no bike seat on the elliptical machine. Philip stands the entire time when pedaling the machine.

He said he averages 50 miles per day for 30 days.

The idea for the bike came from Lars Clausen, an ordained Lutheran pastor, who toured on a unicycle in support of gay rights 10 years ago.

Philip’s wife, Ruth Ann, drives an RV behind her husband as he rides along on the elliptic machine.

The couple, whose daughter is a lesbian, started the journey June 2 at the Pride Festival in Spencer.

Their journey will end July 4 in Bloomington.

The Coopers have traveled to the southern part of Indiana already, and now are traveling the northern half of Indiana.

They are traveling to discuss House Joint Resolution 6. The resolution defines marriage as between one man and one woman and includes language that would ban domestic partnerships and civil unions.

The next step is that the resolution, as it is written, will be voted on again in the House and Senate in either the 2013 or 2014 session. If the resolution passes, it will be put into a statewide referendum in November 2014.

Ruth Ann said she feels the amendment, if passed, would be too limiting.

“As a parent I cannot fathom a world in which my daughter has fewer civil rights than me just because of her sexual orientation,” Ruth Ann said.

Philip said he feels the amendment goes against life, liberty and justice for all.

“What the legislature is trying to do instead of providing equal treatment for all is that they want to put language in the Constitution so they cannot treat people equally,” Philip said.

He said the civil rights he is talking about is the right to have a contract with another individual to share their life and assets with another person.

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Bloomington couple Philip and Ruth Ann Cooper are traveling 1,500 miles across Indiana.

The Coopers’ goal is to discuss a proposed ban on gay marriage and civil unions that could be written into Indiana’s Constitution.

Philip, 61, is riding on a ElliptiGo. It is an elliptical machine that has been converted to a work-out machine on wheels.

He purchased the bicycle  at a Greenwood fitness center.

Philip uses the bike to start conversations with people he comes across.

There is no bike seat on the elliptical machine. Philip stands the entire time when pedaling the machine.

He said he averages 50 miles per day for 30 days.

The idea for the bike came from Lars Clausen, an ordained Lutheran pastor, who toured on a unicycle in support of gay rights 10 years ago.

Philip’s wife, Ruth Ann, drives an RV behind her husband as he rides along on the elliptic machine.

The couple, whose daughter is a lesbian, started the journey June 2 at the Pride Festival in Spencer.

Their journey will end July 4 in Bloomington.

The Coopers have traveled to the southern part of Indiana already, and now are traveling the northern half of Indiana.

They are traveling to discuss House Joint Resolution 6. The resolution defines marriage as between one man and one woman and includes language that would ban domestic partnerships and civil unions.

The next step is that the resolution, as it is written, will be voted on again in the House and Senate in either the 2013 or 2014 session. If the resolution passes, it will be put into a statewide referendum in November 2014.

Ruth Ann said she feels the amendment, if passed, would be too limiting.

“As a parent I cannot fathom a world in which my daughter has fewer civil rights than me just because of her sexual orientation,” Ruth Ann said.

Philip said he feels the amendment goes against life, liberty and justice for all.

“What the legislature is trying to do instead of providing equal treatment for all is that they want to put language in the Constitution so they cannot treat people equally,” Philip said.

He said the civil rights he is talking about is the right to have a contract with another individual to share their life and assets with another person.

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