Comments on: NJ Governor Urges Action On Gay Marriage Report

By: jay patrick

jay patrick — Thu, 28 May 2009 08:28:41 +0000

I have been in a relationship with my partner for 12 yrs now. we have a family , which consist of a 4 yr old and a 7 yr old. we believe that we should have the same exact rights as any married couple. If not for us , for our children. My belief is that all children should have the right to feel complete with in themselves and with not giving their same sex parents the eqaulty of heterosexuals then America is depriving these children the completeness they so desearve. For instance; If something happened to my spouse , I would not recieve any survivors benefits. This would impact my childrens lives in a very negative way. This would cause drastic changes in their lifestyle. Never the less; we would be forced to sell our home that they are growing up in. Come on, should americas children have to suffer through the “should they ” or ” should they not” battle? Why should it ever be an issue? We should all be treated the same as we were all created equal!

By: Gerry Fisher

Gerry Fisher — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 14:26:08 +0000

This “Eastern seaboard sweep” is very, VERY possible in the next five years. It’s very exciting.

RE the recommendations to call legislators in NJ: absolutely. However, I highly recommend the “bring your family to the state house” days that we did here in MA. There’s nothing like sitting in front of a real gay family, hearing about their every-day lives and how marriage can help them. This has more impact than a call, fax, or reading the committee report.

Have “Bring Your Family to the State House” days…have them often.

By: qjersey

qjersey — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 11:51:48 +0000

does anyone else find it interesting that with the exception of California, it is the original northern “colonies” that are at the forefront of LGBT civil rights?

And respectfully Mr. Corzine, it Gay marriage is about the economy stupid. Times are tough, money is tight and some people are losing jobs and their healthcare while not having access to their partner’s healthcare benefits; and if both persons have jobs with healthcare, why should people be paying twice!

By: Johne

Johne — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 23:28:41 +0000

Now, the important thing is that the ball is not dropped. If you are from NJ or know someone who lives there, they should write / call / fax (no email) their state representatives, senators, and the governor and demand that the law be changed immediately in favor of gay marriage. Yes, the economy is important and the number one concern at the moment, but marriage equality takes 10 minutes to vote on in each house and 1 minute for the governor to sign.

Just a few minutes well spent to close the book on one of last remaining legal discrimination acts.

By: vanndean

vanndean — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 23:16:09 +0000

Senate President Richard Codey said there must be “incremental steps.”

Could someone PLEASE tell me just what is the next “incremental step” between civil unions and full marriage equality?

It seems like every time some politicians open their mouth, some ignorance seems to fall out of it.

By: Morgan

Morgan — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 22:00:24 +0000

Mark, friend,
I believe from the articles I have been reading over the months in the gay press about civil unions not working out in NJ that NJ will very likely be the 3rd gay marriage state. And it could very well happen sometime in 2009. I read that polls (whether polls can be trusted or not is a whole other topic for another day) say that more NJ people in the poll sampling are for gay marriage than those against.

And a gay marriage bill may be introduced in the Vermont legislature in 2009 by a gay-marriage supporter in the Vermont Assembly. In Rhode Islsnd, term limits prohibit RI gov Carcieri (GOP) from running again, so in 2010 in RI with already 3 progay marriage frontrunners with possible intent to run for RI’s governor position, Things could turn in favor of gay marriage in “The Ocean State” as RI also calls itself.
In Maine, which now has domestic partnerships, the current gov there and both houses of Maine’s assembly are mostly in favor of Maine gay marriage so a push may happen there in 2009. New Hampshire may change from civil unions to gay marriage in 2012. It is predicted that all of New England will have gay marriage by 2012 with most of them having it within the next 2 years.

I am predicting New York Statehaving gay marriage by 2012. My state of Maryland (the scene of an annual gay marriage lobbying day for several years of a failed court case in 2007 to win marriage rights) I predict the possibility of going from domestic partner benefits to maybe civil unions by 2014 and maybe gay marriage by 2018.

If the Federal level of DOMA gets repealed, I predict gay marriage through the USA speeded up.

with many of the supporters and suthors of Federal Marriage Protection Act to amend the US constitution itself gone or voted out, I predict also for next 4 years no real efforts to try to amend US constitution. So, I think the US constitution itself is finally safe. Gay marriage in MA and CT are now safe as well.

And I predict one day before long, the return of gay marriage to California.

But meanwhile, The Garden State is like to lead the way on passing gay marriage and that it likely will be the 3rd US state to have it. Which will bring gay marriage to within 12 miles of my state Maryland.

By: Jessica K

Jessica K — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 21:48:35 +0000

Mark,

Here here!

Yes good ol’ Jersey should be the third state to enact the right for us to marry. It would also make us the FIRST to do it without a court order.

By: MARK

MARK — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 20:09:14 +0000

New Jersey was the third state to radify the US Constitution. As a life-ling resident of the Garden State, I hope that we are the third state to PERMANANTLY enable the gay citizens to legally marry.