December 9, 2009
States allowing civil unions/same-sex-marriage/domestic partner
(12-11) NJ Senate postpones vote
New Jersey’s Senate Judiciary Committee voted 7-6 (video) in support of a same-sex marriage bill: Marriage Equality Act (S1967/A2978), after a heated 7 hour debate Monday night (7th). Sen Baroni added an amendment stipulating that clergy members are not required to marry same-sex couples if it conflicts with their religious beliefs
No: All Republicans, except Sen Baroni
Yes: All Democrats, except committee chair Paul Sarlo and vice chair John Girgenti
Legislation now heads to the Senate to be voted on December 11. If it passes, then it would go the Assembly.
Gov Corzine said he would sign it, but governor-elect Chris Christie has already said he opposes the legislation.
As is, same-sex civil unions have been legal in NJ since 2007.
JULIAN BOND, Chairman, NAACP:
Like race, our sexuality isn’t a preference. It’s immutable, unchangeable and the Constitution protects us all from discrimination.
Black people, of all people, should not oppose equality, and that is what gay marriage represents. It does not matter the rationale: religious, cultural, pseudo-scientific – no people of good will should oppose marriage equality. And they should not think that civil unions are a substitute. At best, civil unions are separate but equal, and we all know, separate is never equal.
14th District Coalition for Traditional Marriage and the People’s Voice
We know from prison populations and history that some homosexuality is a learned behavior and thus a choice. Since the vast majority of people in NJ do not want the definition of marriage changed, those who have chosen this lifestyle should find another name for it.
Source: NJ.com – see videos of debate and reading of the vote.
