| Not where you think.
There's buzz that the Union County Freeholder Board will be considering a resolution - tonight - calling on the NJ legislature to pass the marriage equality bill. If it's true, it's a big deal. Union County is bustling and diverse, and its leaders encouraging marriage equality is a signal that new families are welcome. It's also significant that Union County is a Democratic stronghold.
Pro-equality legislators should feel supported that an important local government is considering its own position on this issue.
The Union County Freeholders are Chair Alexander Mirabella, Vice-Chair Daniel P. Sullivan, Freeholders Chester Holmes, Rayland Van Blake, Bette Jane Kowalski, Rick Proctor, Deborah Scanlon, Angel G. Estrada and Nancy Ward.
Below the fold is the wording of the Resolution, to be presented by Freeholder Chair Alexander Mirabella.
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RESOLUTION
Presented by CHAIRMAN ALEXANDER MIRABELLA
WHEREAS, civil marriage is a legal institution recognized by the State in order to promote stable relationships and to protect individuals who are in those relationships, and civil marriage provides important protections for the families of those who are married, including not only children or other dependents, but members of their extended families; and
WHEREAS, in Lewis v. Harris, 188 N.J. 415 (2006), the New Jersey Supreme Court held that denying rights and benefits to committed same-sex couples that are statutorily given to their heterosexual counterparts violates the equal protection guarantees of the New Jersey Constitution and mandated that the Legislature provide equal rights and benefits to same-sex couples; in response to the Lewis decision the Legislature enacted the Civil Union Act, allowing same-sex couples to enter into civil unions, rather than marriages, and also created the bipartisan New Jersey Civil Union Review Commission to study whether or not civil unions worked effectively; and
WHEREAS, after several years of intense and thorough study and analysis the Civil Union Review Commission issued two reports which unanimously identify that civil unions do not work effectively and do not provide the level of equality to same-sex couples that marriages provide to heterosexual couples, and calling on the Legislature to amend the civil marriage law to allow marriages by same-sex couples; and
WHEREAS, many same-sex couples in civil unions have testified how they have been denied access to hospital services as a result of not being provided equality through marriage, have been denied insurance and other employee benefits, and have been discriminated against because of their status of civil union partners rather than as married spouses; many clergy have also proclaimed that the civil union law discriminates against religions, since those faiths that do solemnize same-sex relationships are prohibited by the State of New Jersey from marrying members of those faith traditions, in violation of their religious practices; civil unions harm gay and lesbian children or those with gay or lesbian parents by perpetuating a legal system that is separate and unequal; and independent studies have indicated that allowing marriages of committed same-sex couples, the State of New Jersey would become a destination for more weddings, resulting in almost $248 million in new small business generation and $19 in additional tax revenue to the State; and
WHEREAS, it is clear that civil union act has failed to provide committed same-sex couples equal access to the rights, privileges and benefits of civil marriage since the word "marriage" is the word that everyone understands; and
WHEREAS, the Freedom of Religion and Equality in Civil Marriage Act has been introduced in the New Jersey Legislature and is expected to be considered by the Senate and General Assembly in January 2010, and has already received bi-partisan support by the Senate Judiciary Committee; and it will provide to all couples in New Jersey the same access to obtain a civil marriage certificate or license in our the State, while at the same time clearly and unequivocally protecting the rights of religious institutions to practice their religious in their houses of worship; it is about making sure the doors of government are open to all people in our State; and
WHEREAS, the County of Union is proud to be a place that welcomes and invites people of all backgrounds, faiths, races, nationalities, ethnicities, status, sex, sexual orientation, or gender, to access its government services, its public agencies, and its communities;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Board of Chosen Freeholders of the County of Union that it hereby calls on the members of the New Jersey Legislature to vote in favor of the Freedom of Religion and Equality in Civil Marriage Act.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution, suitably prepared, be presented to the members of the New Jersey State Senate and General Assembly, and each municipality within the County of Union.
Signed and sealed December 17, 2009. |
