By L. K. Regan
Published Jan 07, 2010

For the last several weeks, gay activists had hoped to get a gay marriage bill onto the desk of the current New Jersey governor before his replacement is sworn in. Today those hopes were dashed as the New Jersey state Senate voted to reject a gay-marriage bill.

Last month, hours of debate in front of the state's Senate Judiciary Committee yielded approval for a bill that would have added the Garden State to the small group of U.S. states with legal gay marriage. Urgency was given to the process by the fact that, while current governor John Corzine is willing, even eager, to sign a gay-marriage law, his replacement, Governor-elect Chris Christie, is strongly opposed to such a law. Christie is due to be sworn in later this month, so this bill was a last hope for the state. But this Thursday, following about 90 minutes of debate on the bill, the Senate voted 20 to 14 to put that hope out of reach.

Governor Corzine was visibly disappointed by the results. Though he was glad the bill had been publicly debated, he said he was "deeply disappointed by the final tally on this common-sense measure that would have assured equal rights for all New Jerseyans." He went on to speak of the importance of equal rights for all. "Most assuredly, this is an issue of civil rights and civil liberties, the foundation of our state and federal constitutions," Corzine said. "Denying any group of people a fundamental human right because of who they are, or whom they love, is wrong, plain and simple."

New Jersey has had domestic partnerships since 2002 and civil unions since 2006, but as is often pointed out, such unions do not have the same rights as marriages in the eyes of the federal government, not to mention broader society. Unfortunately, New Jersey will not soon be joining the slim ranks of states that feel that "separate but equal" is a concept deserving to be retired for all time.

alexander7 wrote:

Just this last week, Portugal joined the countries in the European Union that have legalized gay marriages. There was some disappointment there because adoption of children was not added to the bill as it was several years ago in Spain when they passed the gay marriage act. Also, the French parliament is debating now whether to have gay marriage.

Jan 14 10:54 AM

yankel wrote:

**she** ;) anyway Dumb Ass!

Jan 09 7:46 PM

yankel wrote:

For me there's no excuse he's a Dumb Ass!

Jan 09 7:45 PM

musluvinla wrote:

creasehem wrote: "Truth is, when there is more consistency of gender identity in the community then the concept of marriage will have more definition in the Gay Community thereby making the union of what looks like two men more important."

that's a cop out! First of all, you excluded what looks like "two women" in your theory. But, most importantly, there is NO consistency in the straight community with gender identity, and so, what do you theorize everyone should do? Should all men be butch heteros, and all women be all pretty and lace??? This is the same argument that they gave to black people when they used to say..."well, if they wouldn't act so "uppidity" then, we might not be so scared of them"...

If they want to take away my rights to marry, then...nothing anyone does is going to change their idiotic minds. And I certainly am not going to give up my right to be exactly who I am, and I'm not going to ass-ume what the closed minded hetero's want me to act like, to talk like, to walk like, etc. I can assure you that no matter how you alter your personality, or identity..."they" will find something inherently wrong with who you are.

Jan 08 4:25 PM

HomingDevice wrote:

Truth is, when there is more consistency of gender identity in the community then the concept of marriage will have more definition in the Gay Community thereby making the union of what looks like two men more important.

Jan 08 2:03 PM

SteamyWeenie wrote:

i find it funny that such a manly name with a name like 'Christie' would be opposed to such a union. what a fairy.

Jan 08 3:48 AM

musluvinla wrote:

You know what I wish we all could do? I wish all gay men and women from every State could move directly to either Iowa, or the New England States that have legalized gay marriage, and that we would boost the economy of THOSE states and say...FUCK YOU to CA, to NY, TO FLA, and every other state that has voted NO, like idiotic NJ. I think that the economy of a lot of those states would go down, and at least we would show them that we mean business and that we ARE a fucking force to be reckoned with.

As it stands, this will go on and on, while the lovely religious FREAKS continue to pour their money into keeping OUR rights equal to theirs. And they all at LEAST have the balls to stay together, and fight...while it just seems that we don't stand up for what we deserve!

So, that's my thought about it: If there was some huge gay organization, and that organization just said, ENOUGH. Let's all go to these states and let's take our businesses AND our CASH their...these little dicked religious freaky senators, would change their tune quite quickly.

I'm so sick of this country treating us this way.

Jan 08 2:59 AM