AP: N.J. Assembly Approves Civil Union Bill

[Eugene]

N.J. Assembly Approves Civil Union Bill


Thursday December 14, 2006 9:31 PM

By GEOFF MULVIHILL

Associated Press Writer

TRENTON, N.J. (AP) - Under pressure from New Jersey's highest court to offer
marriage or its equivalent to gay couples, the state Assembly approved a bill
Thursday to create civil unions.

The measure, 56-19, awaited approval in the state Senate, which was expected
to take up the bill later in the day.

The legislation - which would extend to gay couples all the rights and privileges
available under state law to married people - would make New Jersey the third
state with civil unions.

-snip-

Democratic Gov. Jon S. Corzine said he would sign the measure into law if it passed.

-snip-

Full article: http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,,-6281112,00.html

[Ian David]

1. And now will New Jersey fight to make the Federal Government recognize these unions?

It is the duty of states to protect the rights of their citizens, as well as the right to each state to get full faith and credit for the licenses it issues.

Therefore, New Jersey (and Massachusetts and Vermont) must sue The Federal Government at taxpayer expense to recognize their marriages and/or Civil Unions as equal under Federal Law.

[MADem]

4. Probably not quite yet...but you never know.

I'm guessing they might wait for a bit more critical mass before that happens. The Supremes might flick it off and refuse to schedule it, if it got that far. If there were ten or twelve states, well, that might tip the balance.

NJ is a populous state, and as part of the 'tri-state area' might influence neighbors NY and CT to get with the program.

Hopefully the NJ Senate will move quickly; it's in their interest to do so.

[Beetwasher]

2. Good for NJ!

This is why I love living in the N.E. I'm surrounded, for the most part, by sanity (at least when it comes to civil rights).

[LeftyMom]

3. how long until somebody blames this for our now-inevitable loss in '08?

After the homophobes were so fucking wrong last time I almost want them to do it again for good luck. :eyes:

[rodeodance]

5. How grand. a flower to the rest of the nation.

[RedSpartan]

6. NJ Passes Civil Union Law

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: December 14, 2006
TRENTON, N.J. (AP) -- Both chambers of the New Jersey Legislature have passed a bill creating civil unions for gay couples.

The state Senate has passed the bill 23-to-12. The Assembly passed it 56-to-19 earlier today.

The Legislature's move comes amid a recent ruling from New Jersey's highest court that the state must offer marriage or its equivalent to gay couples.

The legislation would extend to gay couples all the rights and privileges available under state law to married people. It would make New Jersey the third state with civil unions.

Governor Jon Corzine has said he would sign the measure into law.

Gay rights advocates welcome the bill as a step forward. But they also say they will continue to push for the right to marry.

[More Than A Feeling]

7. Well done, NJ!

Congratulations to the happy couples that can take advantage of this, and a well-deserved FUCK YOU! to the forces of hate and intolerance.

[ninkasi]

8. At least it's a start

Personally, I'm in favor of equal rights for all, not just equal rights for those the religious right approves of. If this link is still good, I suggest looking at it.

http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2004/02/12/GAYMARRIAGE.TMP

This is about a lesbian couple who married in San Francisco, when such marriages were being allowed. One partner is, I believe, in her eighties, and the other is 79. The have been together over fifty years. Homophobes make much of the sexual aspect of gay marriage, or just in being gay, period. These ladies have been together longer than almost any heterosexual marriages last. Their story is one of love, commitment, and caring for one another. Only the bigoted could find fault with that.

[brentspeak]

9. NJ will never support legalized gay marriage

I've lived here my whole life, and there is no support for it. People are OK with civil unions, but not gay marriage.

[William769]

10. Well people in NJ are just going to have to get over themselves.

Because it will happen.

[brentspeak]

11. How do you propose it's going to happen when there's no public support for it?

[William769]

12. The Supremes can work in mysterious ways.

Damn those Liberal judges! :sarcasm:

[Jersey Ginny]

15. There is significant public support for Marriage Equality in NJ

Go to the Garden State Equality website. There (last time I looked) was a publication of a few independant polls (Zogby was one) where 55+% supported marriage equality. The numbers dropped after the supreme court decision but historically these numbers rise again after there is a debate. Sadly, NJ cut off the debate and didn't allow for any lobbying. However, Civil Unions are a good step forward.

[brentspeak]

17. People should comes to grips with the fact that there won't be gay marriage in NJ

[pokercat999]

16. There's a difference?

[David__77]

13. A step forward.

But really not the one hoped for. It's important that a second state have same-sex marriage. It will probably be VT, CT, or another soon-to-be "civil unions" state. This is a fight progressives will win.

[JerseygirlCT]

14. Good news, and a step in the right direction! nt