N.J. gay rights advocates: Marriage near

As Maine became the fifth state to allow gay marriage, gay rights advocates in New Jersey yesterday said they believe the state is poised to pass such a law this year.

But gay marriage opponents are not giving up the fight -- they're still pushing for the issue to go to the ballot box as a constitutional amendment, so that voters decide who can use the term "marriage."

The state already recognizes civil unions for same-sex couples after a Supreme Court decision in 2006 left it up to the Legislature. The decision to reverse that law -- or take it further -- is still in the hands of Legislature, where lawmakers have introduced a bill that would allow gay couples to marry (S2898), and a measure (SCR-30) that would ask voters to amend the constitution to define marriage as a union between a man and woman.

In a Statehouse news conference, gay marriage opponents said lawmakers have not been responsive to putting the marriage constitutional amendment on the ballot this year.

"There hasn't been any inroads or any further movement of the bill that we could see, based on the conversations we've had with legislators," said Len Deo, president of the New Jersey Family Policy Council.

John Tomicki of the New Jersey Coalition to Preserve and Protect Marriage said there was no reason to change civil union laws to gay marriage other than to change the "traditional" meaning of the term.

"If they have all the same benefits, protections and responsibilities of marriage, why do we want to redefine marriage? he said.

Steven Goldstein, chair of Garden State Equality, said it's highly unlikely that lawmakers would ban gay marriage in this year's election.

"There's no chance of a constitutional amendment. New Jersey is moving in the complete other direction," said Goldstein.

Sen. Loretta Weinberg (D-Bergen), who sponsors the gay marriage bill, said the Supreme Court has "already said that same-sex partners are entitled to all the rights and responsibilities of marriage" -- and most lawmakers agree with it.

"I don't think the majority of the Legislature believes we should have a constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage. They already voted for domestic partnerships and civil unions, and gay marriage is the next logical step. We don't have to expand rights; we're almost just changing the name," said Weinberg.

Weinberg predicted her bill would pass "by the end of this year."