The “M” word matters
Posted on Nov 12, 2007 at 03:11 pm
Politicker NJ
November 12, 2007
Carla Katz, president of the Communications Workers of America Local 1034, the largest CWA local in the country, writes, "The truth is, same-sex marriage is not a 'gay' issue. It is a civil rights issue, pure and simple. It is, and should be, as important to those of us in the 'straight' community as any other civil rights issue. Time and again, the United States Supreme Court has announced that marriage is a fundamental, constitutionally protected right of all citizens. I emphasize the word 'all'. One need not even support the concept of marriage sanctioned by the church or the state to defend the rights of same-sex couples to marry. Defending that right simply means being in favor of equal rights for all." [link]
November 12, 2007
Carla Katz, president of the Communications Workers of America Local 1034, the largest CWA local in the country, writes, "The truth is, same-sex marriage is not a 'gay' issue. It is a civil rights issue, pure and simple. It is, and should be, as important to those of us in the 'straight' community as any other civil rights issue. Time and again, the United States Supreme Court has announced that marriage is a fundamental, constitutionally protected right of all citizens. I emphasize the word 'all'. One need not even support the concept of marriage sanctioned by the church or the state to defend the rights of same-sex couples to marry. Defending that right simply means being in favor of equal rights for all." [link]
EDITORIAL: A flawed law
Posted on Nov 11, 2007 at 03:14 pm
New York Times
November 11, 2007
The New York Times weighs in again, strongly, for marriage and makes clear that civil union/partnership, etc., is no substitute for equality under the law. Congratulations to our colleagues at Garden State Equality, for making the case so strongly in New Jersey. [link]
November 11, 2007
The New York Times weighs in again, strongly, for marriage and makes clear that civil union/partnership, etc., is no substitute for equality under the law. Congratulations to our colleagues at Garden State Equality, for making the case so strongly in New Jersey. [link]
NJ civil union law has fallen short in its first year, commission is told
Posted on Oct 28, 2007 at 03:16 pm
New York Times
October 28, 2007
Jodi Weiner, an electrician from Montclair, said that when she tried to get health benefits for her partner of nine years, she was told that her union's plans did not cover civil unions. It was only when she mentioned that they had been married in Massachusetts that her partner was able to get benefits. [link]
October 28, 2007
Jodi Weiner, an electrician from Montclair, said that when she tried to get health benefits for her partner of nine years, she was told that her union's plans did not cover civil unions. It was only when she mentioned that they had been married in Massachusetts that her partner was able to get benefits. [link]
NJ’s civil union law is a fiasco
Posted on Sep 26, 2007 at 03:18 pm
Blue Jersey
September 26, 2007
At tonight's first public hearing of the New Jersey Civil Union Review Commission, Garden State Equality presents a mountain of new evidence showing the failure of New Jersey's civil union law to provide equality as real marriage would. 30 civil-unioned couples from across New Jersey will present a joint letter to state leaders. An expert from Vermont will testify that civil unions in Vermont still don't work like marriage, seven years after Vermont enacted a civil unions law. [link]
September 26, 2007
At tonight's first public hearing of the New Jersey Civil Union Review Commission, Garden State Equality presents a mountain of new evidence showing the failure of New Jersey's civil union law to provide equality as real marriage would. 30 civil-unioned couples from across New Jersey will present a joint letter to state leaders. An expert from Vermont will testify that civil unions in Vermont still don't work like marriage, seven years after Vermont enacted a civil unions law. [link]
Corzine: NJ marriage equality inevitable
Posted on Sep 09, 2007 at 03:19 pm
Gay City News
September 9, 2007
In a one-hour session with gay journalists, New Jersey Governor Jon Corzine made clear that he sees full marriage equality for same-sex couples as inevitable in the Garden State. At Corzine's urging, the Legislature adopted a civil unions law last fall. While emphasizing his desire to have "a little more time" to judge how it's working, the governor was unambiguous in saying he would sign a marriage equality law if it came to his desk. [link]
September 9, 2007
In a one-hour session with gay journalists, New Jersey Governor Jon Corzine made clear that he sees full marriage equality for same-sex couples as inevitable in the Garden State. At Corzine's urging, the Legislature adopted a civil unions law last fall. While emphasizing his desire to have "a little more time" to judge how it's working, the governor was unambiguous in saying he would sign a marriage equality law if it came to his desk. [link]
Zogby Poll: New Jerseyans say change civil unions law to real marriage equality
Posted on Aug 16, 2007 at 07:18 pm
Garden State Equality
August 16, 2007
As New Jersey marks the six-month anniversary of the civil unions law this Sunday, August 19, a new statewide Zogby Poll shows majorities of voters favoring changing the law to full marriage equality for same-sex couples. By 63% to 31%, New Jersey voters say they'd be fine with the state legislature upgrading civil unions to marriage equality. By 72% to 21%, New Jersey voters say state legislators would be in no electoral danger if they enacted marriage equality. By 61% to 29%, New Jersey voters say they expect the state to enact marriage equality within just a couple of years. [Link]
August 16, 2007
As New Jersey marks the six-month anniversary of the civil unions law this Sunday, August 19, a new statewide Zogby Poll shows majorities of voters favoring changing the law to full marriage equality for same-sex couples. By 63% to 31%, New Jersey voters say they'd be fine with the state legislature upgrading civil unions to marriage equality. By 72% to 21%, New Jersey voters say state legislators would be in no electoral danger if they enacted marriage equality. By 61% to 29%, New Jersey voters say they expect the state to enact marriage equality within just a couple of years. [Link]
OPINION: Justice for NJ
Posted on Aug 05, 2007 at 02:37 pm
New York Times
August 5, 2007
The NY Times editorial board concludes, “To eliminate any confusion, the New Jersey Legislature should do what it failed to do last winter: legalize gay and lesbian couples' marriages.” (Link)
August 5, 2007
The NY Times editorial board concludes, “To eliminate any confusion, the New Jersey Legislature should do what it failed to do last winter: legalize gay and lesbian couples' marriages.” (Link)
In civil unions, new challenges over benefits
Posted on Aug 01, 2007 at 02:35 pm
New York Times
August 1, 2007
New Jersey's civil union law is in reality a hodgepodge and that hundreds of people were struggling to persuade their bosses to treat their partners like spouses. (Link)
August 1, 2007
New Jersey's civil union law is in reality a hodgepodge and that hundreds of people were struggling to persuade their bosses to treat their partners like spouses. (Link)
The choir doesn’t even have the sheet music
Posted on Jul 11, 2007 at 03:22 pm
Huffington Post
July 11, 2007
Joan Garry discusses her civil union ceremony and the uneducated responses of her friends "Now, you're married — just like us," highlighting the need for public education, especially to those we assume already 'have the sheet music,' on the separate and unequal status of civil unions, and the continuing exclusion of same-sex couples from marriage. [link]
July 11, 2007
Joan Garry discusses her civil union ceremony and the uneducated responses of her friends "Now, you're married — just like us," highlighting the need for public education, especially to those we assume already 'have the sheet music,' on the separate and unequal status of civil unions, and the continuing exclusion of same-sex couples from marriage. [link]
BLOG: Stop calling my civil union a marriage
Posted on May 23, 2007 at 03:24 pm
Blue Jersey
May 23, 2007
Ignoring the differences between civil unions and marriage doesn't make them go away. Pretending that civil unions are the same as marriage doesn't make it true. The latest news here in New Jersey is proving, just as Blue Jersey predicted, that civil unions are an inferior status that don't work in the real world, and aren't working in New Jersey. [link]
May 23, 2007
Ignoring the differences between civil unions and marriage doesn't make them go away. Pretending that civil unions are the same as marriage doesn't make it true. The latest news here in New Jersey is proving, just as Blue Jersey predicted, that civil unions are an inferior status that don't work in the real world, and aren't working in New Jersey. [link]