[Vision2020] New Jersey Court Recognizes Right to Same-Sex Unions

[Tom Hansen]

>From CNN.com -

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New Jersey court recognizes right to same-sex unions

TRENTON, New Jersey (AP) -- New Jersey's Supreme Court opened the door to
gay marriage Wednesday, ruling that homosexuals are entitled to the same
rights as heterosexuals, but leaving it to lawmakers to legalize same-sex
unions.

The high court gave lawmakers 180 days to rewrite marriage laws to either
include same-sex couples or create a new system of civil unions for them.

The ruling is similar to the 1999 decision in Vermont that led to civil
unions there, which offer the benefits of marriage, but not the name.
(Opinion -- pdf)

"Although we cannot find that a fundamental right to same-sex marriage
exists in this state, the unequal dispensation of rights and benefits to
committed same-sex partners can no longer be tolerated under our state
Constitution," Justice Barry T. Albin wrote for the 4-3 majority's decision.

Outside the Supreme Court, news of the ruling caused confusion, with many of
the roughly 100 gay marriage supporters outside asking each other what it
meant. Many started to agree that they needed to push for a state
constitutional amendment to institute gay marriage.

Garden State Equality, New Jersey's main gay and lesbian political
organization quickly announced Wednesday that three lawmakers would
introduce a bill in the Legislature to get full marriage rights to same-sex
couples.

Gay couples in New Jersey can already apply for domestic partnerships under
a law the Legislature passed in 2004 giving gay couples some benefits of
marriage, such as the right to inherit possessions if there is no will and
healthcare coverage for state workers.

Democratic Gov. Jon S. Corzine supports domestic partnerships, but not gay
marriage.

Supporters pushing for full gay marriage have had a two-year losing streak
in state courts including New York, Washington, and in both Nebraska and
Georgia, where voter-approved bans on gay marriage were reinstated.

They also have suffered at the ballot boxes in 15 states where constitutions
have been amended to ban same-sex unions.

Cases similar to the one ruled on Wednesday, which was filed by seven by gay
New Jersey couples, are pending in California, Connecticut, Iowa and
Maryland.

"New Jersey is a stepping stone," said Matt Daniels, president of the
Virginia-based Alliance for Marriage, a group pushing for an amendment to
the federal Constitution to outlaw same-sex marriage. "It's not about New
Jersey."

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Seeya round town, Moscow.

Tom "Straight, but not narrow, and still posting from 64.126.132.12" Hansen
Vandalville, Idaho

"Gays and lesbians stood up for civil rights in Montgomery, Selma, in
Albany, Georgia and St. Augustine, Florida, and many other campaigns of the
Civil Rights Movement.  Many of these courageous men and women were fighting
for my freedom at a time when they could find few voices for their own, and
I salute their contributions."

- Coretta Scott King (March 30, 1998)