The group that won a New Jersey Supreme Court ruling in 2006 that said same-sex couples must have the same legal rights as married pairs is urging the state legislature to move forward on a marriage equality bill.
Following the high court ruling the legislature passed civil unions bearing the rights of marriage but not the name. Since then, despite the law, gay and lesbian couples say they are not being treated on an equal footing with married couples.
Lambda Legal which won the 2006 ruling this week called on lawmakers to amend the law to provide for full marriage.
"Marriage equality for same-sex couples in New Jersey is inevitable ---- prolonging the wait leaves countless families across the state without the security and dignity of being able to explain to their children, their neighbors, or their children's teachers that they are married," said Lambda Legal Executive Director, Kevin Cathcart in a letter to members of the legislature and Gov. Jon S. Corzine.
"Civil unions label same-sex couples as different and inferior and no amount of tinkering with the rules and benefits can erase that stain of inequality.
"While the civil union law helped immensely to reduce the harm that New Jersey causes same-sex couples, most New Jerseyans will never read the law. Instead, they know gay people were denied marriage, and they take away a discriminatory message from that.
Corzine has said he expects that eventually the law will be amended and at least one openly gay lawmaker is reportedly working on a bill.
But it is doubtful any legislation will be introduced before the November election.
"Grandma, my teacher said if grandpa was a girl that's ok, you can still be married,'" the voice says. The announcer then returns to say: "Our kids will be taught a new way of thinking: 'God creating Adam and Eve is so old-fashioned.'"
"Thinking the unthinkable: 'If my dad married a man, who would be my mom?'" The ads were paid for by the National Organization for Marriage.
Lawmakers are awaiting a report from a commission it set up when the civil union law was passed to monitor whether civil unions are meeting the requirements set down by the court.
It is widely expected the commission will recommend amending the law to provide for marriage.
At public hearings throughout the state last year commissioners heard from same-sex couples who faced discrimination.
Garden State Equality said more than 300 same-sex couples have complained to it that employers won't recognize their civil unions and refuse to provide insurance for their parters and children.
"When the government itself discriminates, it sets an example for others to follow, and causes more discrimination everywhere else. The harm has only just begun, and it will never stop as long as same-sex couples are assigned a separate status," the letter from Lambda Legal to lawmakers this week said. "The New Jersey Legislature and the Governor should end the harm it created with the civil union law by ending discrimination in marriage."
Following the high court ruling the legislature passed civil unions bearing the rights of marriage but not the name. Since then, despite the law, gay and lesbian couples say they are not being treated on an equal footing with married couples.
Lambda Legal which won the 2006 ruling this week called on lawmakers to amend the law to provide for full marriage.
"Marriage equality for same-sex couples in New Jersey is inevitable ---- prolonging the wait leaves countless families across the state without the security and dignity of being able to explain to their children, their neighbors, or their children's teachers that they are married," said Lambda Legal Executive Director, Kevin Cathcart in a letter to members of the legislature and Gov. Jon S. Corzine.
"Civil unions label same-sex couples as different and inferior and no amount of tinkering with the rules and benefits can erase that stain of inequality.
"While the civil union law helped immensely to reduce the harm that New Jersey causes same-sex couples, most New Jerseyans will never read the law. Instead, they know gay people were denied marriage, and they take away a discriminatory message from that.
Corzine has said he expects that eventually the law will be amended and at least one openly gay lawmaker is reportedly working on a bill.
But it is doubtful any legislation will be introduced before the November election.
"Grandma, my teacher said if grandpa was a girl that's ok, you can still be married,'" the voice says. The announcer then returns to say: "Our kids will be taught a new way of thinking: 'God creating Adam and Eve is so old-fashioned.'"
"Thinking the unthinkable: 'If my dad married a man, who would be my mom?'" The ads were paid for by the National Organization for Marriage.
Lawmakers are awaiting a report from a commission it set up when the civil union law was passed to monitor whether civil unions are meeting the requirements set down by the court.
It is widely expected the commission will recommend amending the law to provide for marriage.
At public hearings throughout the state last year commissioners heard from same-sex couples who faced discrimination.
Garden State Equality said more than 300 same-sex couples have complained to it that employers won't recognize their civil unions and refuse to provide insurance for their parters and children.
"When the government itself discriminates, it sets an example for others to follow, and causes more discrimination everywhere else. The harm has only just begun, and it will never stop as long as same-sex couples are assigned a separate status," the letter from Lambda Legal to lawmakers this week said. "The New Jersey Legislature and the Governor should end the harm it created with the civil union law by ending discrimination in marriage."
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