Editorial: Standing up vs. letting down
Posted on Jan 13, 2010 at 09:26 am
The Times of Trenton (NJ)
January 13, 2010
During testimony on legalizing marriage equality in N.J. last month, Julian Bond, chairman of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, encapsulated the case in a nutshell: "Like race, our sexuality isn't a preference," he said. "It's immutable, unchangeable and the Constitution protects us all from discrimination." Yet many New Jersey state senators voted no on the basis of religious beliefs. In a society founded on the separation of church and state, however, that filter is as incongruous as it is divisive. [Link]
January 13, 2010
During testimony on legalizing marriage equality in N.J. last month, Julian Bond, chairman of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, encapsulated the case in a nutshell: "Like race, our sexuality isn't a preference," he said. "It's immutable, unchangeable and the Constitution protects us all from discrimination." Yet many New Jersey state senators voted no on the basis of religious beliefs. In a society founded on the separation of church and state, however, that filter is as incongruous as it is divisive. [Link]
NJ’s state Senate President voices regret in not having voted for marriage equality last week
Posted on Jan 13, 2010 at 09:09 am
philly.com
January 13, 2010
On his first day as state Senate president, Stephen M. Sweeney (D., Gloucester) said he regretted not voting days earlier on a bill to legalize the freedom to marry. Sweeney's decision drew harsh attention from critics who said he should have taken a stand one way or another - especially as an incoming legislative leader. [Link]
January 13, 2010
On his first day as state Senate president, Stephen M. Sweeney (D., Gloucester) said he regretted not voting days earlier on a bill to legalize the freedom to marry. Sweeney's decision drew harsh attention from critics who said he should have taken a stand one way or another - especially as an incoming legislative leader. [Link]
Marriage equality advocates will push for change in statehouses as well as in courts
Posted on Jan 11, 2010 at 12:25 pm
The Washington Post
January 8, 2010
After a stretch in which state legislatures emerged as key battlegrounds for the issue, the courts are now main venues on the horizon. Evan Wolfson, executive director of Freedom to Marry, a national marriage equality advocacy group, says that the freedom to marry is a social justice issue that will continue to have setbacks as well as advances - and that advocates will push for change in statehouses as well as in courts. [Link]
January 8, 2010
After a stretch in which state legislatures emerged as key battlegrounds for the issue, the courts are now main venues on the horizon. Evan Wolfson, executive director of Freedom to Marry, a national marriage equality advocacy group, says that the freedom to marry is a social justice issue that will continue to have setbacks as well as advances - and that advocates will push for change in statehouses as well as in courts. [Link]
New Jersey marriage equality bill: An unhappily unmarried mom weighs in
Posted on Jan 08, 2010 at 12:14 pm
nj.comJanuary 8, 2010
Joan Garry writes about her frustration with the New Jersey freedom to marry vote yesterday, explaining that as a lesbian mom with a partner of 28 years she and her family, which includes three kids, do not receive the same rights and protections as straight families in New Jersey. "Our taxes underwrite benefits to residents of New Jersey. Benefits that don’t come our way." [Link]
Marriage Equality Advocates Plan Return to Court after NJ Bill Fails
Posted on Jan 08, 2010 at 10:54 am
The Associated Press
January 8, 2010
Immediately following the 20-14 defeat of a New Jersey state Senate marriage equality bill on Thursday, LGBT equality advocates announced they would file a lawsuit seeking to get the state Supreme Court to recognize marriage equality. [Link]
January 8, 2010
Immediately following the 20-14 defeat of a New Jersey state Senate marriage equality bill on Thursday, LGBT equality advocates announced they would file a lawsuit seeking to get the state Supreme Court to recognize marriage equality. [Link]
Op-Ed: N.J. marriage equality vote: A final taste of Democrats’ timid incompetence
Posted on Jan 08, 2010 at 10:43 am
The Star-Ledger (NJ)January 8, 2010
Tom Moran writes that yesterday's marriage equality bill defeat was "a fitting finale to the Democratic decade in Trenton, one last taste of the incompetence that has left the state in such a mess...With Democrats in firm control of every lever of power in Trenton, they could not deliver, not by a long shot...The victims this time were the thousands of gay couples across this state, and their children, who just got a slap in the face." [Link]
Column: Even defeat could benefit advocates of freedom to marry
Posted on Jan 08, 2010 at 10:01 am
The Bergen Record
January 8, 2010
Charles Stile explains that while marriage equality advocates may have been disappointed by yesterday's NJ senate vote, the process produced two strategic consolation prizes for their certain return to the court: consensus that the current civil union law simply isn't working, and failure of the legislative process to comply with a 2006 court order mandating equal legal rights and benefits for gay couples. [Link]
January 8, 2010
Charles Stile explains that while marriage equality advocates may have been disappointed by yesterday's NJ senate vote, the process produced two strategic consolation prizes for their certain return to the court: consensus that the current civil union law simply isn't working, and failure of the legislative process to comply with a 2006 court order mandating equal legal rights and benefits for gay couples. [Link]
New Jersey Senate Refuses to End Exclusion From Marriage, Flunking the Constitutional Command of Eq
Posted on Jan 07, 2010 at 05:15 pm
Freedom to Marry
January 7, 2010
January 7, 2010
Lambda Legal and Garden State Equality Going Back to Court to Seek
Freedom to Marry
Today the New Jersey Senate failed to do right by the New Jersey families harmed by exclusion from marriage, and the majority of the New Jersey public who support ending the denial of marriage licenses to same-sex couples. Legislators themselves, even opponents, have confirmed that the civil union law does not work to protect and support those families, and is no substitute for the freedom to marry. Freedom to Marry applauds Garden State Equality’s and Lambda Legal’s announcement that they are going back to court to fulfill the constitutional command of equality and secure the freedom to marry for committed couples in New Jersey. [Link]
Watch NOW New Jersey Senate Debate Freedom to Marry Bill
Posted on Jan 07, 2010 at 02:57 pm
New Jersey Senate
January 7, 2010
View the live feed of the New Jersey Senate session here (http://www.njn.net/newspublicaffairs/coverage/gaymarriagevote.html) as they prepare to discuss the pending freedom to marry bill.
January 7, 2010
View the live feed of the New Jersey Senate session here (http://www.njn.net/newspublicaffairs/coverage/gaymarriagevote.html) as they prepare to discuss the pending freedom to marry bill.
EDITORIAL: Less Than Two Weeks Left in NJ
Posted on Jan 07, 2010 at 11:15 am
The New York Times
January 7, 2010
The New York Times Editorial Board: "After weeks of maneuvering and delay, the New Jersey State Senate will finally vote on Thursday on whether to legalize marriage equality...Polls show that a majority of New Jersey’s citizens accept the idea of the freedom to marry." It is not too late for "all New Jersey legislators to show real leadership and stand up for the fundamental rights of New Jersey’s gay and lesbian citizens. If the Legislature does not act now, justice could be delayed for years." [Link]
January 7, 2010
The New York Times Editorial Board: "After weeks of maneuvering and delay, the New Jersey State Senate will finally vote on Thursday on whether to legalize marriage equality...Polls show that a majority of New Jersey’s citizens accept the idea of the freedom to marry." It is not too late for "all New Jersey legislators to show real leadership and stand up for the fundamental rights of New Jersey’s gay and lesbian citizens. If the Legislature does not act now, justice could be delayed for years." [Link]