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Loading ...Conservatives press for gay marriage ban in NJ
05.07.2009 9:19pm EDT
(Trenton, New Jersey) A coalition of socially conservative groups is pressing the New Jersey legislature to ask voters in 2010 to amend the state constitution to bar same-sex marriage.
The call came as Maine became the fifth state to legalize same-sex marriage and a similar bill in New Hampshire passed the legislature.New Jersey lawmakers would have to approve a constitutional amendment in each of two consecutive years in order to put the question to voters. So far, the Democratically-controlled legislature has rebuffed calls to advance the proposed amendment.
But the legislature also has stalled on taking up a bill that would allow same-sex couples to marry.
In 2006, the state Supreme Court ruled same-sex couples must have all the rights of marriage.
The Court gave the New Jersey State Legislature 180 days to act on the decision to grant same-sex couples the rights and benefits enjoyed by different-sex married couples, but left it up to the legislators to decide whether to call it marriage or civil unions.
The legislature opted for civil unions. But that, said civil rights groups, amounted to separate but equal.
A commission established by the state to study same-sex civil unions in New Jersey agreed with that assessment.
The commission held three public hearings last year where people who were in civil unions testified that they were still not being treated the way married couples are by government agencies, employers and others.
For instance, the commission found that many companies in the state that are self-insured – and therefore are regulated by federal, rather than state, law – refuse to provide health insurance to the partners of their employees.
A marriage equality bill was filed in the last session of the New Jersey legislature, but gained little support in an election year from either House or Senate leaders. Garden State Equality believes this year the bill has a stronger chance to pass.
Gov. Jon Corzine has said he would sign a marriage bill if it were passed.
In February, a poll of registered voters in New Jersey found there is a 10 point spread in favor of same-sex marriage. The survey, by Monmouth University for Gannett newspapers, found 50 percent of voters supporting marriage rights for gay and lesbian couples, while 40 percent said they were opposed.
In addition, the poll found a similar result when it came to amending the state constitution to ban same-sex marriage – 50 percent opposing an amendment and 41 percent in favor.
I agree with Linda – Garden State Equality rocks! And everyone in New Jersey knows that all the politicians are waiting for is the election.
It’s an open secret that the New Jersey legislature is going to vote on the gay marriage bill in November after the governor election – and that the votes are now there to pass it. Morgan, you have no idea what you’re talking about re Garden State Equality. I’ve been a gay activist since the Stonewall Rebellion and in my entire life I’ve never seen a gay rights organization in any state or nationally so throughly change a state for the better like Garden State Equality has. I don’t agree with everything they do – who agrees with every group on everything. But I agree with most things and in fact, they impress me constantly. Their offices are humming day and night and they have revolutioned gay activism in the state. I agree with you on the website, but when I was at their office to volunteer recently, they asked a few of us for feedback on the new website they’re about to unveil, which I never had an organization do before.
This is what desperation looks like.
OMG, these people are human sheep. They’re so predictable and negative.
They can’t even see the country is changing right in front of their eyes and their actions just keep marginalizing them and their friends in the Republican party. They’re in a real predicament. Moderate their positions or the majority of the country will leave them. They’re not so the majority of the country IS leaving them. Look at the polling….
Not going to happen. Please come back when you have something positive to add to the NJ constitution. You’re acting like a bunch of negative ninnies.
@Morgan,
Actually Garden State Equality has a massive call your senator or rep. drive going on currently. The Governor said he will sign it if it makes it to his desk. They have been very active in pressing the legislator about this.
The problem has been Dick Cody who is the Majority leader (Dem.) who doesn’t want to let it come to the floor for a vote. If we can get it past him it should be a done deal. Currently the NJ public supports marriage equality 50% to 40%.
Go Jersey, Go Jersey!
What is the Garden State Equality LGBT rights org going to do in the face of this ugly attempt to tyrannize the NJ gay community by voter approved marriage discrimination amendment in 2010?
I have stopped looking at Garden State Equality’s Website as they never change, refresh or update their website, it remains stagnant and unchanging. Not even a news link to keep people abreast of what is happening or not happening in the NJ legislature, etc. So it might just be anyone’s guess as to what is happening in NJ on the gay and/or gay marriage front.
Any comments from the LGBT residents of New Jersey themselves on all this?
I have hopes the NJ will be for FULL Marriage Equality soon….the cinservative part of NJ is northern NJ…I will be lookin to MOVE OUT of NJ if any kind of discrimination goes into its Constitution…and I live in S.NJ near downtown philly.
This is about religion.. When the haters start chanting the one man one woman procreation mantra then you know where they’re coming from. If they want to ban us from marrying, then they’ll have to ban their fellow straights who don’t want to breed or can’t if the mantra they use is to be believed. Its all or nothing, they can’t have it both ways. Civil marriage has absolutely NOTHING to do with religion, the sooner they get that through their thick skulls assuming their are brains in there, the better.
Public opinion polls show that jerseyans support marriage equality 2-1.
The conservatives in jersey are being propped up and supported by people from outside our state….hmm sound familiar?
This will never pass in the great State of New Jersey, I’m sure of it. If it somehow does…I’ll be moving out ASAP (which I’d rather not do, there’s nowhere else in the world I want to live).
conservatives, public enemy #1
This is so screwed up! Is it any wonder that I hate Republicans? Conservatives are the worst people on the planet. It’s like they enjoy watching other people suffer. They go against everything fair and just – just for the pure sick pleasure of it!
Contact you representative in trenton and tell them to get us same sex marriage as i told my reps all 3 republicans it is time to make us equal under the law
Come on NJ give us a break! You had the chance to be number three now you have the chance to be number six, don’t blow it. Were supposed to be a leader in civil rights not a follower!