| It's wonderful news that NY has passed a law enshrining the right to marriage equality. Let's celebrate and savor the moment after so many years of hard work on the part of NY advocates. Gay Pride weekend in Manhattan is already shaping up to be a crazy, joyous and exhilarating occasion.
However, celebration in this case is no cause for a delay or postponing of action. New Jersey and 43 other states lack this legislation. DOMA is still technically the law of the land. The Supreme Court is likely to review the San Francisco law suit, and the outcome is far from certain. Even our President who in another political life filled in forms indicating he supported marriage equality, decided to backtrack when he ran for the President. Now he says his position on the issue is "evolving."
New Jersey supporters have also achieved successes, beginning with the addition of LGBT inclusion in the state's Law Against Discrimination and more recently with Civil Unions. We have our own case wending its way through NJ courts and fierce advocacy on the part of Garden State Equality. While the victory cup still eludes us, each favorable action in New Jersey, in another state or at the federal level is a step which helps us. We cannot realistically expect to change the mind of Governor Christie, Catholic church leaders, nor the religious right, but there are possibilities to sway the mind of legislators. Some regret their shameful performance during the lame duck session. Just recently Sen. President Sweeney admitted making a huge mistake in not supporting the Marriage Equality bill.
Polls make clear that the tide of public opinion is moving in a favorable direction. In the upcoming legislative elections Democratic candidates have the opportunity to build a large cadre of enthusiastic LGBT contributors and people who will help get out the vote, and Republicans who might want to side with equality will find it easier. Indeed, in just a few more years Christie's blunders may bring us a new governor, at which point a supportive legislature might not face a veto.
All of this, of course, is far from a slamdunk, but after celebrating NY's victory, let's not procratinate in NJ. Success for us is now closer, not further away. |
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