Op-Ed: New Jersey Marriage ’08 -
Start Your Engines
By Evan Wolfson (wiki) of Freedom to Marry
Sat Jan 06, 2007 (via BLUE JERSEY )

When Governor Corzine signed New Jersey’s civil union bill into law late last year, he kicked off the next and last stage of the work to secure the full measure of protection and dignity that is every family’s due, and which civil union fails to deliver. And so we turn now to the months of persuasion and persistence needed to win all committed couples in New Jersey the freedom to marry, shimmering within our reach.

Fortunately, we have a lot on which to build. First, thanks to Lambda Legal’s case, the unanimous ruling of the NJ Supreme Court, and the creative and constant public education and outreach by Garden State Equality and its amazing array of gay and non-gay organizations and partners – including BlueJersey.com, and its series of engaging ads – it’s clear that the people of New Jersey are ready to accept an end to the exclusion of same-sex couples from marriage. Had the legislative leaders and the governor stepped forward following the Supreme Court ruling and said that the time is now for full equality, not place-holders, New Jersey would have embraced it (and rapidly come to see, as have the people of Massachusetts, that equality in marriage means families helped and no one hurt; gay couples don’t use up all the marriage licenses and there is plenty of marriage to share).

Unfortunately, NJ’s political leaders seized on the unsurprising polls that showed that in the immediate aftermath of the decision, a majority was also comfortable with the intermediate step of a parallel, lesser status, and they rushed to that place-holder. Happily, an intense blitz by Garden State Equality, Lambda Legal, and an unprecedented collaboration of movement organizations (the Task Force, HRC, ACLU, MassEquality, and New York’s Pride Agenda) and funders made clear to the politicians that those of us committed to equal treatment and full inclusion will not rest until couples have the freedom to marry itself. As a result, Senate President Codey and Assembly Speaker Roberts, along with many other key legislators and leaders, have now acknowledged that marriage itself is the goal, that it is do-able, and that it must be done – soon. Gov. Corzine has already promised to sign a marriage bill into law.

Garden State Equality has called on all who believe in fairness to hold these leaders to their word, and, with the help of all of us, has pledged a massive effort to win the freedom to marry in New Jersey within the next two years.

As the new year dawns, …

Mass. lawmakers vote on gay marriage
By STEVE LeBLANC, Associated Press Writer

BOSTON – Lawmakers in Massachusetts, the only state where gay marriage is legal, voted Tuesday to allow a proposed constitutional amendment to move forward that would effectively ban it.

Mayor vows to conduct same-sex unions
BY CURT YESKE; The Times (NJ)

LAMBERTVILLE – Home to many gay and lesbian couples, Lambertville will be among the first municipalities — if not the first to offer ceremonies for same-sex couples when New Jersey’s new law goes into effect.

Shortly after being sworn in yesterday for a sixth term, Mayor David Del Vecchio announced that he will conduct the civil union ceremonies for gay and lesbian couples.

“The first one will be at 12:01 a.m. on Feb. 19, the day the new state law takes effect,” said Del Vecchio.

He said he expects to be the first mayor of any community in the Lambertville area to provide the ceremony.

He said the gay and lesbian community has been an integral part of the city of about 4,200 people, “yet the many same-sex couples that call Lambertville home have been unable to enjoy the simple rights that other families take for granted. Thankfully, that will change soon.”

Del Vecchio’s stance contrasts with the feelings of some mayors who have expressed reservations about presiding over civil unions of gay couples.

Under the law signed by Gov. Jon Corzine Dec. 21, same-sex couples who form civil unions are entitled to all of the rights that married couples have under state law.

New Jersey is the third state, after Vermont and Connecticut, to allow civil unions. Only Massachusetts allows same-sex couples to marry.

Del Vecchio had no qualms announcing his plans to conduct ceremonies during the city’s annual reorganization session, where the Democratic mayor formally launched another three-year term.

He said he had gay and lesbian couples ask him in the past to unite them in a civil ceremony but he was not permitted to do so…

Gay-Marriage Showdown Expected On Beacon Hill
Yahoo! News”>Yahoo! News/The Boston Channel.com

A showdown is expected at the Massachusetts Statehouse Tuesday as it’s the last chance for gay-marriage opponents to put the issue to the voters as a ballot question.

Said Arline Isaacson of the Gay and Lesbian Political Caucus: “Civil rights should never go to the popular vote. That’s fundamentally un-American to allow the masses to determine who gets treated equally under the law and who doesn’t by a popularity contest.”

baywindows.com is
blogging the Consitutional Convention/vote already and throughout the day.

Freedom to Marry Week—
February 11-17, 2007

All across the country, from Hawaii to Massachusetts, from California to New Jersey, we have worked together to make significant gains for same sex couples and their families. Our journey is not yet complete, but so far, we’ve come a mighty long way.

Now, all we need is you.

In honor of the 10th annual observance, Freedom to Marry is sponsoring three special funding opportunities: A Photo contest, a Video contest and special Freedom to Marry Week Mini-Grants for nonprofits.

Click HERE for the latest information on these and other Freedom to Marry Week events, or to let us know about the event you’re planning. Together, we’ll make this the best Freedom to Marry Week yet.