For same-sex couples, a patchwork of marriage laws
Posted on May 10, 2010 at 10:28 am
Many lesbian and gay couples struggle with the classification and recognition of their relationships due to varying marriage equality laws and freedom to marry bans throughout the United States.
ACLU-NJ joins NJ freedom to marry lawsuit
Posted on May 04, 2010 at 01:49 pm
The American Civil Liberties Union has joined a lawsuit arguing that same-sex couples don't have full rights under New Jersey's civil unions law.
The ACLU's New Jersey chapter said Monday that New Jersey's law "has failed to fulfill the actual promise of equality."
Ending the Failed Experiment: A High Court Marriage Challenge to Civil Unions in New Jersey
Posted on Mar 25, 2010 at 10:18 am
Freedom to Marry's Evan Wolfson and Hayley Gorenberg, Deputy Legal Director of Lambda Legal, discuss Lambda Legal's return to the New Jersey Supreme Court to win the freedom to marry.
Opinion: N.J.‘s Freedom to Marry Debate - Back to Court because Lawmakers failed
Posted on Mar 24, 2010 at 10:04 am
When the state Supreme Court ruled in 2006 that same-sex couples must have the same rights as heterosexual couples under New Jersey law, the justices ducked the obvious question: Can gay couples get married? They left that question to the state Legislature, which found another way to avoid it, passing a law that established civil unions. They’re just like marriages, the law essentially says, but with a different name.
Video: Lambda Legal Files Suit in NJ for the Freedom to Marry
Posted on Mar 19, 2010 at 12:10 pm
Lambda Legal filed a motion in New Jersey yesterday seeking the freedom to marry on behalf of six couples and the surviving partner of a seventh.
NJ Freedom to Marry Advocates Go Back to Court for Equality
Posted on Mar 18, 2010 at 09:20 am
New Jersey gays rights advocates, with the help of New York-based Lambda Legal, are going back to the New Jersey Supreme Court in order to fight for the right to marry in the Garden State.
Lambda Legal and Garden State Equality have scheduled a new conference for Thursday morning in Trenton to announce their action.
Garden State Equality: ‘Demolish the Divide’ schedule
Posted on Feb 14, 2010 at 03:45 pm
Garden State Equality
February 6, 2010
Join Garden State Equality at rallies, marches and free dinners across New Jersey from Wednesday night, February 17, 2010 through Monday night, February 22, 2010 to mark the three-year anniversary of New Jersey's failed civil union law.
Remember, to win marriage equality in the court of law, we must continue our campaign in the court of public education.
No tickets, no RSVP required. Just show up and please spread the word by emailing your friends and colleagues and by posting on list servs, blogs and Facebook.
Questions? Press, contact Chair Steven Goldstein at Goldstein@GardenStateEquality.org or cell (917) 449-8918. Members, contact Field Manager Troy Stevenson at Stevenson@GardenStateEquality.org or cell (405) 802-8229.
Wednesday, February 17, 2010 at 7:00 pm, Collingswood. Meet at 7:00 pm for a rally at the Scottish Rite Auditorium, 315 White Horse Pike. We'll then do a candlelight march through Collingswood, ending at Cafe Antonio in downtown Collingswood for a free pizza dinner. This event is in the district of Senator Jim Beach, who abstained on the marriage equality bill.
Thursday, February 18, 2010 at 7:00 pm, Montclair. Meet at 7:00 pm for a rally at Bnai Keshet Reconstructionist Synagogue, 99 Fullerton Avenue. We'll then do a candlelight march through Montclair, ending at the Lower Lounge in downtown Montclair for a free pizza dinner. This event is in the district of Senator Nia Gill, a sponsor and great champion of the marriage equality bill.
Friday, February 19, 2010 at 7:00 pm, Asbury Park. Meet at 7:00 pm in front of Garden State Equality's Asbury Park office, 658 Cookman Avenue. From there we'll do a candlelight march through downtown Asbury Park, past the law office of Senator Sean Kean and then onto the Brickwall restaurant for a free dinner. This event is in the district of Senator Sean Kean, who voted no on the marriage equality bill.
Monday, February 22, 2010 at 6:00 pm, Trenton (note time). Meet at 6:00 pm in front of the Hughes Justice Complex, 25 Market Street, where we'll hold a candlelight vigil on the plaza. From there we'll do a candlelight march through Trenton, ending the evening at Covello’s Pizza in downtown Trenton for a free pizza dinner. Note: This event is in the district of Senator Shirley Turner, who voted no on the marriage equality bill. [Link]
New Jersey's civil union law took effect on February 22, 2007.Through waivers of the waiting period, the first couples got civil unioned on February 19, 2007.
N.J. Gay Rights Group suspends Political Donations after Denial of Freedom to Marry
Posted on Feb 09, 2010 at 10:24 am
nj.com February 9, 2010
New Jersey’s largest gay rights group is suspending donations to political parties after feeling spurned by Democratic lawmakers who did not pass marriage equality legislation last month. Garden State Equality is also asking its 65,000 members not to contribute to parties. Chairman Steven Goldstein said, "No longer will we let any political party take our money and volunteers with one hand, and slap us in the face with the other when we seek full equality." [Link]
Children Speak for the Freedom to Marry
Posted on Jan 21, 2010 at 08:39 am
The New York Times January 20, 2010
Last month, advocates and opponents of the freedom to marry packed the New Jersey State House in Trenton. Near the end of the day, Kasey Nicholson-McFadden took the microphone. “It doesn’t bother me to tell kids my parents are gay,” he said in a clear voice. “It does bother me to say they aren’t married. It makes me feel that our family is less than their family.” [Link]
‘Plan B’ may be marriage winner in New Jersey
Posted on Jan 19, 2010 at 08:15 pm
The Times of Trenton January 18, 2010
Two weeks ago, the New Jersey Senate defeated a bill to legalize the freedom to marry. Now the bill's backers are readying Plan B. They believe they have a powerful case to make before the New Jersey Supreme Court -- and that opponents of marriage equality, in what one advocate privately calls "a stunning legal blunder," have helped strengthen it. [Link]