In our constitutional republic/representative democracy, the voters in our state elect a Governor and legislators to make hard decisions, not come up with excuses about why they cannot or gimmicks like passing the buck back to the voters. New Jersey does not need to amend its constitution to provide gay men and women with equal rights under the law. Our State Supreme Court has already ruled on this issue and ordered our legislature to do just that, which it has done insufficiently to date.
The legislation before the Assembly and Senate that will go to the Governor for his signature or veto addresses earlier failures. Governor Chris Christie has spent his first two years in office priding himself on his boldness and the courage of his convictions. Signing
or vetoing this legislation or would be consistent with that assessment of his performance. Passing the buck back to the voters is not.
If Governor Christie signs the legislation, then this issue will be resolved once and for all. If he vetoes it, we will do everything in our power to try to override his veto. If we fail to do this, then we will ask the State Supreme Court, which may include Governor Christie's recent appointees, to determine once and for all whether or not existing legislation satisfies its earlier ruling.
We have three branches of government who are tasked with the responsibility of making hard decisions like this one, not come up with excuses why they cannot or gimmicks like passing the buck back to the voters. If Governor Christie, our state legislators, and our State Supreme Court justices, including the Governor's appointees, are not afraid to make hard decisions, then there can only be one reason why Christie and the Republicans in Trenton are proposing to pass the buck back to the voters.
Here is today's vote on marriage equality along with the statements from each of the senators. It's worth watching - from the eloquence of Senators Gill and Weinberg to the cowardice of Senator Bateman to the political posturing of Senator Kyrillos. Congratulations to Senators Lesniak, Weinberg, and Sweeney, and to Steven Goldstein for this momentous step.
Two years is a long time. Just two years ago, I was at the beginning of my political career and just starting to see the ins and outs of campaigns. That winter was my first experience going to the state house to lobby the legislature an issue that does not affect me, but I care deeply about. Now, fast forward two years later, and I am still heading to the same state house to lobby a slightly different legislature (with a very different governor who promises to veto the bill) on the very same issue-marriage equality. The general population has grown more accepting of the issue, as students who formed gay-straight alliances in school are now old enough to vote and a large state like my home state of New York passed marriage equality through their legislature (as New Jersey is now trying to do.)
Unlike two years ago, my schedule allowed me to attend the hearing where testimonies from both sides were heard. On one side, I heard heartbreaking stories about how our "separate but equal" civil union law was not recognized by medical facilities and funeral directors, and the financial pain and hoops that civil unioned couples have to jump through to have their relationship recognized. On the other side I heard sermons (including a direct reading of the Mormon Church's teachings on marriage and family), and even a rant about how recognizing same sex marriage would lead to the government controlling circumcision. And of course nothing on gay rights is complete without a Rick Santorum's protégé comparing same sex marriage to marrying a dog (Perhaps I should get his name and give it to Dan Savage). The one common theme I noticed among the opposition was their issue with the word "marriage" as if the definition has never changed over the years (that is a diary coming later this week as I further research the history of marriage).
Thankfully, unlike two years ago, not a single senator gave a disgusting "foot in mouth" speech about the LGBT community (that senator, Sean Kean, is now my assemblyman and will be as long as he wants to be as the district is one of the most Republican in the state) and even the opponents were respectful of the problems that civil unioned couples go through. However, while there was a lot of talk (then and now) about the inequality of the civil union law, not a single marriage equality opponent introduced legislation to strengthen the civil union law by making healthcare providers recognize them (someone please correct me if I am wrong).
If our current governor gets his way, he will dance around the marriage equality issue (as it would damage his presidential hopes by doing the right thing and signing the bill) by making this a ballot initiative, thus opening the airwaves to misinformation spread by the Mormon Church (as they did in California in 2008). Marriage is a civil right (see Loving v. Virginia) period. I am sorry Chris Christie, but civil rights should not be on the ballot period. Could you imagine the society we would live in today had racial issues been decided by the people?
I arrived early at the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on Marriage Equality in order to get a good spot for my video camera. The hearings were scheduled for 11 AM. By 9:15, when I arrived, the line was all the way back to the lobby and more people were coming. I was the first reporter there, and was able to secure a prime spot adjacent to the witness table, a power outlet, and access to the audio feed. What more could a blogger and amateur videographer ask for?
I've been to a lot of committee hearings over the last year, but this was one of the most emotional for me. Yes, I've heard the stories about Danny and John, and about Marsha and Louise before, and they touched me deeply. But today, their stories were juxtaposed with those of marriage bigots who demand special rights for heterosexual couples. (And I'm sad to have to use the term "bigot", but their arguments hold no more water than those who worked to deny women's right to vote in the early 20th century or those who worked to deny rights to African Americans in mid-century.) My head reeled with the thoughts of how can these people call themselves religious? Religion involves compassion and understanding, but these people did not understand a word that was spoken.
1. He realizes he is on the wrong side of history here and how damaging outright opposition to marriage equality could be to his political fortunes in the long term.
2. But he has to placate the parts of the Republican base which are rabidly anti-marriage equality.
3. So he tries to claim that he takes a middle road by letting people vote on it.
But civil rights aren't for the ballot box. Should the right to interracial marriage have been decided at the ballot box forty years ago? The right of Muslim-Americans to enjoy equal rights as Americans be decided that way today? What makes marriage equality different from those scenarios?
Governor, this is your chance to lead - not to cower behind leaving the decision to others. There's still time.
The Senate Judiciary Committee is meeting today to hear testimony from opposing sides on the question of whether to extend the freedom to marry to same-sex couples by way of the Marriage Equality Act. Deja Vu. This time around, it appears that Democrats will be almost universally on the side of equal rights. (Yey!)
But, the big question, today and throughout this year's debates in the Senate and the Assembly, will be: where are the Republicans? Here's hoping enough Republicans will join us on the right side of this issue, the right side of history, and the right side of their own friends and family members - sons, daughters, nephews, nieces, grandchildren - who are aching for equality.
Because, as I said two years ago, "We're never ever going away. We'll be back year after year, year after year, until we are treated as equals." And today, we're back. So, I say to Governor Christie and legislators, Republican and Democratic: Let's put an end to this. Let's treat all New Jerseyans with the dignity and respect they deserve. Make marriage equality the law of the state. And do it now. You have the power.:
(Video courtesy of my fellow discriminatee, Jay Lassiter, with an assist from our friend, Lori Braunstein, who is a wizard at this kind of thing. Thanks Jay and Lori!)
UPDATE: Hearing is now underway. UPDATE: At Bridgewater "Town Hall" Gov. Christie calls for public referendum on marriage.
Waiting
This is the audience, those lucky enough - who got there early enough - to get seats for the Senate Judiciary hearing on S-1, the marriage equality bill sponsored by senators Loretta Weinberg and Ray Lesniak. The audience, some of whom will be testifying themselves, is in waiting mode - hearing is scheduled for 11am. Blue Jersey has been told by Senate President Steve Sweeney, who infamously abstained when marriage equality came up for a vote two years ago, that today he will lead off the testimony, in support of marriage equality. Sweeney joins Weinberg and Lesniak as a primary sponsor of S-1, along with Dick Codey and Nia Gill as co-sponsors.
At 90 minutes before testimony was scheduled to begin, doors opened to a line that snaked out into the lobby. Within minutes, every seat in the hearing room was full.
Listen LIVE here. Please note: You'll need Windows Media Player, which takes a few moments to download. There's a link for it on the Statehouse media page. Hearings often start late, so keep refreshing the page until it's up.
Loretta Weinberg tells press she hopes new NJ Supreme Court nominee Bruce Harris will gain the right to marry his partner
Opponents of marriage equality gathered in the statehouse cafeteria hours in the early morning. Garden State Equality supporters are wearing deep blue Equality tee-shirts under their coats.
What do you think will happen to this bill after today? Are the votes are there in the Senate? In the Assembly? Are there enough votes to overturn a Christie veto? And will movement on this issue be enough to fire up the Democratic base left disaffected after an awful 2011? This is an Open Thread.
Senate President Steve Sweeney, who infamously abstained in January 2010 when marriage equality came up for a vote in the New Jersey Senate he had just taken leadership of, tells Blue Jersey today that when the Senate Judiciary Committee takes testimony on S-1 Tuesday morning, he will testify first.
UPDATE: Blue Jersey is hearing that S-1, the marriage equality bill, will go before the full Senate on February 13, with Senate Judiciary coming first this Tuesday.
Tuesday morning (event details) supporters of marriage equality (and some opponents) will show up at the NJ Statehouse as the Senate Judiciary Committee hears testimony on S-1, the marriage equality bill that leads off the NJ Senate calendar in the 215th Legislature.
If your work and family schedule allows you to be there - testimony starts 11am, but people will gather hours earlier to claim a seat - or better yet, if you can alter your schedule to make this a priority, our showing up in numbers would make impact on a Legislature which has had two years to move toward recognizing the call for equality from New Jerseyans both gay and straight, the failure of civil unions, and the march toward fair treatment of states all over the country. (Deciminyan has a handy guide to counter the arguments the other side uses).
New Jersey supports marriage equality. And that support comes from New Jerseyans both straight and gay.
The Quinnipiac University poll released yesterday shows that support among NJ voters at New Jersey voters support 52% for and just 42%.
A few interesting numbers stand out:
Democrats support ME 62-33%
Independents support ME 54-38%
Republicans oppose ME 59-35%
Both women (55-40%) and men (49-44%) would support a law allowing same-sex couples to marry
Same-sex marriage is not a threat to traditional marriage. Agree: 65 - 32%
Denying same-sex marriage is discrimination. Agree: 53-45%
These are useful numbers for legislators considering supporting marriage equality in New Jersey, bringing us to parity with neighboring New York and Connecticut, not to mention Iowa, Massachusetts, D.C., New Hampshire, Vermont ...
There's such a tremendous opportunity for New Jersey's legislators - and New Jersey's governor - to be heroes on this issue. Already, we've seen Senate President Steve Sweeney shift course from abstaining in 2010 to leading on this issue in 2012. Who will join him?
On Tuesday, we will see the first step in the effort to pass Senate Bill 1 (S1), the Marriage Equality and Religious Exemption Act. It promises to be an exciting hearing. Our friends at Garden State Equality will be there, and I’m sure the proponents of marriage discrimination will be also.
America was founded on principles of individual rights, and it’s appropriate that the marriage equality bill is the first piece of legislation to be considered in this session. That’s not to say that jobs, health care, and education are not critical. But individual rights are the bedrock of our society, and should never take a back seat to the other important issues.
Despite the Constitutional guarantees, there are still people who, as Steven Goldstein of GSE puts it, demand “special rights” of heterosexual marriage. It’s important that we understand and counter their arguments so that we help tip the balance in the legislature toward the side of marriage equality.
Jon Holden Galluccio is author of An American Family with Michael Galluccio & David Groff. He and Michael live with 2 of their children in North Haledon. The Galluccios are my fellow board members at Garden State Equality. Jon is Vice-Chair. - Promoted by Rosi
As a child, when I realized I was gay I was terrified. I never heard anything positive in my world being said about gay people just horrible things, horribly ugly things.
A lot I heard at Our Lady Queen of Peace Church in Maywood as I sat on the Parish Council as the "youth" representative. The Pope and the Church this, the Pope and the Church that and unfortunately for me I was too young and impressionable and it all, well, attacked my soul. Sure by now the booze and pot were "helping" me cope but how much booze and pot can a 16 year old really get away with! There are plenty of other sources of self esteem crushers that came my way but I mention the Church because it had inflicted the most damage.
My life story is full of adversity, highs and lows, but it still hurts me that the world has missed out on so much of it. Of course, there was a crash course on the news about my life back in 1997 but more than that it was the ordinary things that were missed.
The most ordinary thing the world missed out on was the love story that is my life. Having met my one true love when I was only 17, Michael and I would set out to conquer the world together. But it was a private world, one where we could only let in those that "supported" who we were and back then there weren't too many. There wasn't an internet and education was left to those that "chose" what people should be educated about and clearly our lives were not on that list. Actually, I believe our lives are still left off the education pie....for now. But that was back in 1982.
The Star Ledger, typically a friendly voice on the subject of marriage equality, went off the rails today in an editorial suggesting the state consider a referendum on "Gay Marriage." I could not disagree more.
As an initial matter, I wish once and for all that educated people would stop referring to the issue of marriage equality as the right to "gay marriage." They may as well call it "schmarriage" (as some have). There is no such thing as a right to "Italian marriage" or "Black marriage" or "Hindu marriage" or "Second marriage" - and, it's insulting in 2012 for the Star Ledger to still be framing the issue that way. Same-sex couples are not seeking a special right to engage in some subset of actual marriage - we are seeking equality in the freedom to marry our partners and have those marriages recognized by the state, no more and no less. Labels matter.
That's how Garden State Equality's leader Steven Goldstein described the pace of the marriage equality effort in New Jersey. He spoke briefly at today's legislative press conference in Trenton:
Among the scores of Democratic politicians in today's crowded Marriage Equality press conference was one federal official, Congressman Rush Holt. Holt represented the entire New Jersey congressional delegation - all seven congressmen and both senators - in expressing their support for the Marriage Equality bill, S1. Holt's brief remarks are below; the text of the letter is after the fold.
I'm re-posting this from Monday. That morning, one of the busiest days in the Senate, the Democratic leadership granted Blue Jersey a significant amount of time for this interview. It was overshadowed by the tragic events that evening, but the remarks by Senators Sweeney and Weinberg set the stage for the new session, ahead.
This morning, Senate President Stephen Sweeney and incoming Majority Leader Senator Loretta Weinberg took time out of their busy day to give Blue Jersey readers an exclusive interview. They talked about the accomplishments of the last session, goals for the new session (which starts tomorrow), the new initiative for marriage equality, jobs, energy, and the recent controversies about residency requirements in the last legislative election.
We should never have to apologize for giving credit where it's due. Thank you Steven, and thank you Senator Sweeney! - JG
Can you believe I'm nervous about making a post here, dear Blue Jersey friends? I understand that we progressives have differed with Senator Sweeney on some issues, especially with regard to labor. But I am posting here about Senator Sweeney and marriage equality because fairness compels me to. Please do not demolish me for doing so. For as my grandmother of blessed memory would say, Nu, Steven, how much more therapy do you need?
By now, you've read the stories that Senator Sweeney will be leading the way today in announcing the re-introduction of a marriage equality bill. A special shout out of thanks, by the way, to Assemblyman Reed Gusciora, who has worked tirelessly for years on this issue and will continue to lead the way in the Assembly, and to our Senator Loretta Weinberg, our tireless and beloved legend. And to too many others to name, but most of all to the Blue Jersey community, Garden State Equality's incredible partners in the fight for marriage equality.
Back to Senator Sweeney: This round of marriage equality, he has been spectacular. Other than how our Loretta fights for every issue she believes in, I have rarely seen a legislator work so hard behind the scenes for an issue he believes in.
Yes, Steve had a different view two years ago. But a few months after his last marriage equality vote, Senator Sweeney came to me and said he wanted to make it right. In private, and I think it's okay if I say this, he spoke at quite some length about his change of heart, and this was well before any votes down the line that many disagree with. His change was not a public relations stunt to divert attention from anything else.
I know - I have spent hours with the guy since the start of 2011. Like all people in public life, he's not two-dimensional. More than most people in public life I know, and that's more than a handful, the guy has a capacity for growth and self-reflection. He's not only been amazing on marriage equality, but I also believe we can work with him on other issues, too, and that the team of Steve and Loretta together will fight big fights for us and do big things for us - things we believe in.
I publicly thank Steve Sweeney, and I thank you in advance for not hating me for posting this. Oy, mamele, now the dozens of posts begin!
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