Senate Panel in N.J. Approves Gay Marriage Bill (vote on Thursday)

[DainBramaged]

The battle over same-sex marriage in New Jersey headed toward a legislative showdown Monday night, when a bill that would allow such unions narrowly cleared a key legislative committee and was set for a vote by the full State Senate.

The 7-to-6 vote by the Senate Judiciary Committee — which came after years of efforts by gay rights advocates and a day of emotionally charged testimony by dozens of supporters and opponents of the bill — was the first time any legislative body in the state had ever approved a gay marriage bill. The approval brought cheers from hundreds of supporters who crammed the State House committee room.

But the measure faces an uphill fight when it is put up for a vote on Thursday before the full Senate, where even supporters concede that they do not yet have the 21 votes needed to pass it. If it does pass, it will go to the Assembly, where passage is considered more likely.


http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/08/nyregion/08marriage.html?_r=1

http://www.njsendems.com/

LESNIAK STATEMENT ON MARRIAGE EQUALITY VOTE IN JUDICIARY COMMITTEE

Senator Raymond J. Lesniak, D-Union, a sponsor of the “Freedom of Religion and Equality in Civil Marriage Act,” issued the following statement today, after the bill was approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee by a vote of 7-6:

“A recent poll conducted by the Eagleton Institute of Politics determined that only 2% of New Jersey residents believe gay marriage is an important issue. But to those gay couples in a loving and committed civil union, it is an extremely important issue. It means they will be able to visit their loved ones in a hospital or make arrangements for their funerals without painful rejection, without questioning and delays caused by doubting Thomases unfamiliar with the meaning of civil unions.

“It means they will get the health and pension benefits they are entitled to without having to hire a lawyer to convince their employers that civil unions convey the same rights and obligations as marriage. It means they will be treated as human beings should be treated: with love, compassion, understanding and acceptance.

“It is not often we have an opportunity to change society and how we treat each other as human beings. It occurs a few times in our lifetimes, if it occurs at all. We have that opportunity today. We can change fear to love, hate to compassion, cruelty to kindness.
“Those who oppose gay marriage are not unloving, hateful or cruel. But our law, which does not allow for gay marriage, provides a safe haven for those who are. Legalizing gay marriage will take away that safe haven and make us a more compassionate, understanding and loving society.


http://www.njsendems.com/caucus.asp

Senate Democratic Office
P.O. Box 099
Trenton, NJ, 08625-0099
Phone: [phone]



This HAS to get done before Christie takes office!!!!!!!

[tabbycat31]

1. everyone in NJ needs to call their senators now

Sean Kean's office is sick of hearing my voice

[Soylent Brice]

2. lol

thank you for your efforts and hard work!

[DainBramaged]

3. I cannot believe after nearly 5 hours, only two replies and 8 recs

is DU becoming that desentized to the plight of our Gay family????????

[DainBramaged]

4. 8 hours. I give up........I am growing more and more disappointed with this community.

no one else wants to help, so be it. Another case of lost rights because of apathy....

[tabbycat31]

5. I've done so much in this fight

I'm an intern with Garden State Equality-- I called senators off the hook, processed postcards, collected many, etc.

I plan on being in Trenton on Thursday. I'm a nervous wreck though because I don't know if our elected officials care about doing the right thing for their constituents.

[DainBramaged]

8. I realize your efforts, I am sorely disappointed in the reaction on DU

I LIVE here to, and nothing would make me happier than NJ adopting marriage equality for my Gay friends and colleagues. And then once again NJ could be the beginning of hope for everyone around the Country, and a place where Gays KNOW they are accepted without prejudice or any presumption as to their rights.

But DU just is more interested in the size of tiger Woods' dick and how many women have thrown themselves at him...........

[tabbycat31]

9. I'm frustrated with DU's response as well

It does seem like they're more interested in Tiger's wood and it drives me crazy (that and the media coverage of him).

Even on Twitter, it's not getting much play. About the only website I go to regularly where it's being discussed is Blue Jersey.

I wish because of this thread that every NJ DUer (and those who have friends/family in NJ) would call their state senator off the hook and urge him/her to vote for marriage equality. But I doubt that will happen.

[Libertas1776]

6. K&R

Let's hope the Garden State puts its neighbor (my home state) to shame and actually passes this bill, especially before that scumbag Christie comes in.

[ruggerson]

7. recommended

thanks DainBramaged.

[DainBramaged]

10. I guess now that "The Boss" is behind Gay marriage, everyone will comment

in other threads...........