Wednesday, October 25, 2006

Historic Victory in New Jersey Supreme Court Opens Door to Marriage Equality

Statement from Freedom to Marry's Evan Wolfson:

Today's unanimous NJ Supreme Court ruling is a recognition of the equal needs and common humanity of committed same-sex couples and their kids. The Court said these American families are entitled to equal rights and responsibilities under the law. As the legislature moves now to implement the constitution's command of equality, we are confident that legislators will see that the right way to end discrimination in marriage is, indeed, to end discrimination in marriage, not repackage it. The easiest next step is not to cobble together a separate new system with two lines at the clerks' office, but rather, to end the exclusion from marriage itself with two simple words, "I do."

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The Latest News

NJ court sends marriage issue to lawmakers
Reuters
October 25, 2006
Saying that times have changed, New Jersey's highest court on Wednesday guaranteed gay couples the same rights as married heterosexual couples but left it to state lawmakers to do the right thing.

268 key NJ leaders endorse 100 percent marriage equality bill
October 25, 2006
Today, immediately upon the New Jersey Supreme Court's decision in favor of marriage equality, Garden State Equality released the following communique from 268 key New Jersey leaders addressed to Governor Corzine and members of the New Jersey Legislature. For further information, contact Steven Goldstein, chair of Garden State Equality, cell (917) 449-8918, Goldstein@GardenStateEquality.org

NJ Court backs gay and lesbian unions
New York Times
October 25, 2006
The court's eagerly awaited decision found that an arrangement similar to that of Vermont, which authorizes civil unions between same-sex couples but does not call them marriages, would be consitutional in New Jersey under the equal protection guarantees. The court gave the legislature a six-month deadline to enact the necessary legislation to provide for same-sex unions.

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