Subscribe to Breaking NewsWithers: New Jersey pulls back from marriage
Looks like marriage in New Jersey is a no go. There was talk that Democrats, who run both houses of the Legislature, were going to compose a bill for lame duck Gov. Jon S. Corzine to sign; he said a gay marriage bill would get his John Hancock. Well those Democrats are now making the “maybe it’s not time” argument and if not now don’t expect much in the future. The Garden State’s new governor, Christopher J. Christie, has made it clear he’s not for the institution.
Predictably gays in New Jersey are feeling funky.
“If the Democrats don’t enact marriage equality now, after years of telling us to wait, wait, wait, it will cause a huge schism between the state Democratic Party and not just the gay community, but the entire progressive base,” said Steven Goldstein, head of Garden State Equality. “And it could change the political landscape of New Jersey permanently.”
If only. Yes New Jersey gays will rightfully wonder what it takes for Democrats to make a push for marriage, but this is typical. They ask that we work to get them elected, say with tears how their best professor in college was gay, and take a gratuitous shot at the GOP. We do our duty, volunteer, vote and such, to only be told, with those same tears, that now is not the time. We get hopping mad, talk some noise about the people united will never be defeated or the revolution won’t be televised, but return to the very pols who keep pushing us off.
Maybe it’s time to remember the words of writer Michael Joseph Gross:
“The national gay rights movement is trapped between activism and politics, between anger and ambition. We are trapped between wanting equal rights and wanting to get invited to parties at the White House.”
rites = rights, and no – know
Equal Treatment is the Constitutional RIGHT of every American– Gay or straight, black or white, man or woman–and this right should NEVER be determined by the popular vote.
The Constitution is meant to protect the minority from the prejudicial will of the majority, not give the many (by means of the vote) a way to take away the rights of a disenfranchised few!
Using the popular vote as a means to deny the equal rights of a minority is not Democracy! It is voter approved bigotry.
Even the LGBT community, by spending huge amounts of money fighting for our rights at the polls, unwittingly legitimizes the idea that our rights should be determined by the majority vote! It is time to change the strategy!
It is time to challenge our President, our Law Makers and Our Representatives to uphold the Constitution.
On February 28, 2008, as a Presidential candidate, Senator Obama stated: “Equality is a moral imperative…As your President, I will use the bully pulpit to urge states to treat same-sex couples with full equality…I will never compromise on my commitment to equal rights for all LGBT Americans…”
Now– as our President, he tells us that we must be patient because, in his words, “there are those who still need to be convinced”.
With all due respect, Mr. President, if the African American community’s civil rights had been determined on a state by state basis by the popular vote, there are areas in our country to this day, where segregation would be the “will of the people” because “there are those who STILL need to be convinced.”
I am not equating the African American struggle, or the women’s rights struggle, or the struggle for Religious freedom, with the LGBT struggle. Each group has historically faced it’s own unique challenges and discrimination. They are, however, comparable in one way. None should be determined by the “popular vote” and none of them were– EXCEPT the civil rights of LGBT Americans. This is unacceptable!
There is NO legal or socially moral reason to deny FULL EQUALITY to all. This denial is based on a particular religious belief–and no one’s religious interpretations should be allowed to justify denying a group their Civil and Social Rights. To do so is a blatant violation of the separation of church and state.
Mr. President, I would challenge you to show the courage of young Will Phillips. Give him back his Country’s Pledge. Show him that “Liberty and Justice for a ALL” is not a lie!
I hate to say it, but I’m done. It seems everyone in this country votes on single issues while I have tried to be a responsible citizen. I’ve voted Democrat because while I am gay, I also think there are huge differences in the Republican and Democratic platforms and also like to think of myself as an “American.” Because I do I’d like to think I care about what also affects the lives of others and not just myself.
No more. Sorry folks but I don’t have employment problems, I don’t have children, I have health insurance and am a full American citizen. The PROBLEMS I have in this country all have to do with my sexuality and my partner of 23 years who is NOT an american national. So, since no one seems to care about me, quite to the contrary, even those in our own party vote against my rights, I’ve decided to vote MY conscience as well.
I’ll be finding a third party candidate who supports MY needs and supporting and donating to them. “Better than the Republicans” has gotten me better than nothing.
I’m out.
Were I a New Jersey resident again, I would be done as well. Of course, being a New Yorker now, I can also complain, but our legislature is not Democrat-controlled in its entirety (the Senate is tied), so at least they have some excuse for not passing marriage equality quite yet.
But the old, “You have to support us, because the opponents are worse” argument does not cut it.
When the DEMOCRATS are pussies and do nothing, what practical difference is there in the end whether it is their asses in the sets or some right wing bigots? And who cares if the vote is 35-34 against or 60-9 against?
The end result is precisely the same.
Were I a Democrat in NJ, I would shift over to the Libertarian or Green tickets.
Very Well, the Democrats can’t count on my automatic support anymore.
They blew the narrow window of time between Corzine’s last days in office where he would sign if such a bill came to his desk and Christie coming in who will never allow such a thing. That means another Dark Age of 4 year of no equality for New Jersey same-sex couples. If Christie tries to sack NJ civil unions (at least those aren’t yet lost)however inadequate they are, then it’s time for rallies and demonstrations for same-sex civil rights month in and month out in front of the NJ statehouse in NJ’s capital city of Trenton
Morgan, I won’t be entirely surprised if Christie does try to repeal civil unions.
I have to wonder…what would happen if gays in New Jersey simply didn’t donate to either major party in the midterm elections? We may not be large in numbers, but our cash makes a difference. How many times have you seen somebody über-gay and über-rich like David Geffen host a fundraiser for the Dems? (Yes, I know he’s in California.) What if New Jersey gays showed their displeasure by not donating, by not hosting fundraisers? I’m not suggesting that people don’t vote–never EVER view that as a valid protest, because it’s giving away what voice you do have. But I do wonder just how much New Jersey Dems would be sweating if there was a public campaign for gays to withhold support and donations from them? I know it sounds kinda lame, but it gets to the core of it. You wanna stab me in the back? I got ways to get to you too. And that’s what Dems in Jersey need to hear and to know. Let the GOP remind them of it too–pointing out that the Dems are being boycotted by one of their own core constituencies. We have no obligation to support parties which will sacrifice us without a thought. If they want our money to run their campaign, we want action. No action=no cash.
Its clearly time to go back to the Courts in NJ. The ruling stating that we must have the same rights and its clear now that that will only happen if we get marriage.
Mr. Goldstein’s idea that a delay in the fight for marriage equality could cause a rift between the Democratic Party and the entire progressive base, although exaggerated, could potentially be true throughout upcoming civil rights actions nationwide. I consider Maine’s refusal to provide marriage equality as a major speedbump on the road to equal rights and played a large role in New Jersey’s circumventing the issue of gay civil rights. The unfortunate side effects of this are now evident with Christopher Christie in office and a struggle is ahead of lawmakers in New Jersey.
I think that once gay civil rights leaders stop trying to make everyone happy and truly fight for the equality every person should be born with. This can still be done in a non – violent and respectful way to garner support, rather than animosity. Moreover, this should not be a movement that can be easily quieted by saying that “the time isn’t right” and will eventually supply a leader that doesn’t focus on popularity and celebrity, instead on progress and moral change.
Emily, This is why the issue should not be put to the popular vote! It is not up to the American people to approve or deny Gay marriage! The “voice of the People” was never meant to be used to deny the rights of a minority!
The Constitution protects the rights of the few from the prejudicial will of the majority! This is not a popularity contest. This is about equal treatment which is promised by the Constitution. It should never be put to the vote of the people!
What part of this do we not get!?
What you do not get is, that marriage laws have been defined by the states. It is a gay issue, when gay people now wish to change the laws. This can only be accomplished by a popular vote within state boundaries.
Without the vote, marriage is simply between a man and a woman.
I warned gay groups years ago, that a gay for for inclusion was simply an attempt to live in the closet openly. Trying to wear a disguise that makes gays appear as straights is simply cowardly and a form of living in the closet.
Instead of here “I am, I’m queer and happy to be”, the new cry appears to be “I’m gay but I can appear straight”.
S SAxon said: Equal Treatment is the Constitutional RIGHT of every American– Gay or straight, black or white, man or woman–and this right should NEVER be determined by the popular vote.
What the constitutiobn says, is Equal Treatment is the Constitutional RIGHT of every American– black or white or any race, man or woman–and this right should NEVER be determined by the popular vote.
That appears to cover everyone. Trying to create a sub-class, simply makes gays appear as sub-humans, and that is clearly not the case.
Gays work, have parents, siblings, go to movies, drink, do drugs, get sick, cry tears of sadness, die, have loved ones die, and struggle with issues such as choosing to act on sexual impulses. That makes them just like everyone else,in these senses, but it also makes polygamist, pedophiles, incest couples, rapist, and bestiliaty practices the same.
The difference is morality, and the rights of societies to form their own definiton. Without these rights, individuals such as pedophiles, polygamist, rapist, and gays can make their own laws.
Democrats take us for granted. I for one am not contributing my money or time to the local and national Democratic party until I see some REAL CHANGE!!