AS EXPECTED,  Governor Chris Christie (R-NJ) has VETOED the marriage equality bill in New Jersey.

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-501365_162-57380574/n.j-gov-christie-vetoes-gay-marriage-bill/?tag=contentMain;contentBody

(Reuters) – The New Jersey Assembly passed legislation legalizing same-sex marriage on Thursday, sending the measure to Republican Gov. Chris Christie, a possible vice-presidential candidate who has promised a veto.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/02/16/us-usa-gaymarriage-idUSTRE81F01520120216

The New Jersey State Senate has passed marriage equality legislation by a vote of 24-16.

http://www.hrc.org/blog/entry/breaking-marriage-equality-bill-passes-new-jersey-senate

So now it’s done, right?  In 30 days, when the ruling becomes settled law, what will people say about the fortitude and resoluteness of Governor Andrew Cuomo (D-NY)?

Probably much of what they’re saying now:  That is was done in the darkest, corners of the law.  That it was less than legal.  There are those that assert that is a conspiracy of epic proportions.  I’ll be blogging on this later, once the dust settles, and I’ll have some strong questions to pose.

In the mean time, here is an exclusive piece from Paul Schindler of  Gay City news!

“Cuomo Talks About How It Got Done”

Below is the press release from the news conference announcing the lawsuit, which was filed today.

If ever there was a time to donate to Garden State Equality, this is it.  One reason New York won marriage equality is that our side had more resources than the opposition.   That’s never been the case in New Jersey.   We don’t have Manhattan to bankroll a campaign.   With all our hearts, we ask you to consider making a tax-deductible donation to Garden State Equality at www.GardenStateEquality.org

It is an investment in your life or the lives of people you love.  We thank you profoundly.

GARDEN STATE EQUALITY V. DOW FILED TODAY

Trenton, June 29, 2011 — Today Garden State Equality and seven same-sex couples and their children, represented by Lambda Legal, filed a lawsuit seeking marriage equality in New Jersey.  Garden State Equality is the lead plaintiff in the case, captioned Garden State Equality et. al. v. Dow et. al.

The case combines both state and federal claims. It argues that the civil union law violates both the New Jersey Constitution and the Fourteenth Amendment of the federal Constitution.

“The constitutional guarantee of equality under the law does not stop midway through the Lincoln Tunnel,” said Hayley Gorenberg, Lambda Legal Deputy Legal Director. “Our clients have been kept from each other during medical crises, denied health insurance, and even discriminated against in funeral homes because their civil unions relegate them to second-class status.  New Jersey’s same-sex couples have been stuck in a limbo caused by the confusion and indignity of living with an inferior status.”

“By now, everybody in New Jersey knows that civil unions don’t work,” said Steven Goldstein, Chair and CEO of Garden State Equality.  “Since civil unions became law in New Jersey, Garden State Equality has received reports from multitudes of civil union couples who have told us their employers refuse to provide the equal rights and benefits the civil union law mandates. It’s time for the courts to fix this mess and give full marriage equality to New Jersey’s same-sex couples and their children.”

In court papers filed today, Lambda Legal addressed how New Jersey’s civil unions fall short. Civil unions place same-sex couples in an inferior status to different-sex couples. Without full marriage equality, same-sex couples are denied workplace benefits and protections equal to those accorded to married people, and they are blocked from seeing their loved ones during medical emergencies.  The exclusion of same-sex couples from marriage deprives them and their children of  their dignity as a family and certainty in their legal rights and status to each other.

Plaintiffs:

Garden State Equality, New Jersey’s largest civil rights organization, is the lead plaintiff in the case.

The plaintiff couples include:  Daniel Weiss, 46, and John Grant, 46, of Asbury Park, who have been together for four years and were married in Connecticut in 2010 after John was hit by a car, shattering his skull, and hospital administrators failed to understand their civil union; Marsha Shapiro, 56, and Louise Walpin, 57, of Monmouth Junction, who have been together for 22 years and raised four children; Cindy Meneghin, 53, and Maureen Kilian, 53, of Butler, who were high school sweethearts and have been together for 36 years, raising two children; Tevonda and Erica Bradshaw, both 36, of North Plainfield, who have an infant son and have been together for more than four years; Marcye and Karen Nicholson-McFadden, 47 and 45 respectively, of Aberdeen, who have been together for 21 years and have two children; Keith Heimann, 53, and Tom Davidson, 49, of Shrewsbury, who will celebrate their 25th anniversary together in January, and have two daughters; Elena and Liz Quinones, 33 and 45 respectively, of Phillipsburg, who are raising four children and have been together for nine years.

Background:

In 2002, Lambda Legal filed a historic case, Lewis v. Harris seeking marriage equality on behalf of seven New Jersey couples. The case reached the New Jersey Supreme Court in 2006. The high court ruled unanimously that same-sex couples must be provided all the benefits and responsibilities of marriage, although it declined to mandate that marriage was specifically required, and gave the state legislature 180 days to provide equality. The legislature hastily passed a civil union law in December 2006, and began issuing civil union licenses to same-sex couples in February 2007.

In December 2008 the Civil Union Review Commission, appointed by the legislature pursuant to the Civil Union Act itself, issued its unanimous report documenting how civil unions fall short of providing the court-mandated equality for same-sex couples. In January 2010, days before the legislative session ended, the New Jersey Senate voted on and failed to pass a marriage equality law. On March 18, 2010, Lambda Legal filed a motion in aid of litigants’ rights asking the New Jersey Supreme Court to intercede and order marriage to secure compliance with its original mandate of equality for the Lewis v. Harris plaintiffs, but in July 2010, the New Jersey Supreme Court denied the motion, requiring further proceedings to develop a record in Superior Court.

Hayley Gorenberg, Deputy Legal Director, is handling this case for Lambda Legal. She is joined by co-counsel Lawrence S. Lustberg and Eileen Connor of Gibbons, PC.

In a dramatic public apology on the Senate floor today, New Jersey Senate President Steve Sweeney says his not voting for marriage equality was “the biggest mistake of my career”…

Read about the NJ Bill vote in the premiere issue of “Savoir!” (.pdf)

Read about the NJ Bill vote in the premiere issue of “Savoir!” (.pdf)

The video coverage of the Senate debate and vote on “The Freedom of Religion and Equality in Civil Marriage Act” is delayed until further notice.

There is other programing being aired on New Jersey Network, with an occasional crawl indicating that they will pick up coverage “once the Senate takes up the bill”.

You should be able to watch live once coverage begins, here.

via SDGLN Staff;  San Diego Gay and Lesbian News

(LOS ANGELES) – The Williams Institute released this week a new study estimating the financial impact of New Jersey extending marriage to same-sex couples. The report estimates that extending marriage to same-sex couples would boost the New Jersey economy by almost $200 million during the next three years, creating approximately 1,400 jobs and generating over $15 million in revenues for the state budget.

The estimate, based on Census Bureau data, includes data from states that have extended marriage to same-sex couples, and a recent survey of Massachusetts gay couples asking them to report how much they spent on their weddings.

Credit: San Diego Gay and Lesbian News

This is the fourth analysis of the fiscal impact of extending the rights and obligations of marriage to same-sex couples conducted by the Williams Institute for New Jersey. Prior studies analyzed the impact of New Jersey’s domestic partnership and civil union laws. In the summer of 2008, the Institute presented an analysis of the fiscal impact of marriage to the New Jersey Civil Union Commission.

“The new report takes into account the changing legal landscape and the recession,” says study co-author Brad Sears, Executive Director of the Williams Institute. “When we conducted our last analysis in 2008, New Jersey would have only competed with one other state in attracting out-of-state same-sex couples seeking to marry. Now same-sex couples can marry in five other states.”

The recession has also reduced the amount that couples in the United States and New Jersey spend, on average, on their weddings.

Sears testified about the new analysis before the New Jersey Senate Judiciary Committee on Monday, December 7. The marriage legislation was passed by a 7-6 vote.

The new report also takes into account that New York same-sex couples now have a greater incentive to come to New Jersey to marry. “While the legislature did not extend marriage to same-sex couples this month, the New York Court of Appeals recently upheld the decision of state agencies to recognize the relationships of New York same-sex couples who marry in other states” says study co-author Christopher Ramos. “This makes it likely that many New York couples will make the short trip to New Jersey to marry.”

This new estimate only includes direct spending by same-sex couples on their weddings, and tourism spending by out-of-state couples who travel to marry in New Jersey and the guests of in-state couples who marry. It does not include spending by family members and friends on gifts or by those traveling within New Jersey to attend weddings. The estimate also does not include the standard multiplier for tourism spending, that each $1 spent in the state generates over $2 in additional spending.

“If these factors are taken into account,” says Sears, “the total impact on the New Jersey could be close to half a billion dollars.

GSE: “Savvyplanners, news of a lifetime: STATE SENATE TO VOTE THURSDAY ON MARRIAGE EQUALITY BILL”

MEMBERS:  BREAKING NEWS FOR YOU TO FORWARD IMMEDIATELY TO YOUR FRIENDS, RELATIVES, ORGANIZATIONAL AND CONGREGATIONAL COLLEAGUES — AND TO YOUR LIST SERVS AND BLOGS:

The New Jersey State Senate has just announced it is voting this Thursday, January 7, 2010 on the marriage equality bill.  We need each of you to join us for this most momentus (sic) day  in our lives.

We ask you to meet us in front of the State House in Trenton Thursday at 10:30 am, when we will march from the State House to the State House Annex, and then talk to legislators before the vote.
You may meet us in front of the State House earlier than 10:30 am Thursday to help us organize.  We will be there earlier whenever you arrive.

The address of the State House, for GPS and MapQuest purposes, is 125 West State Street.  Park at the Trenton Marriott garage, 1 West Lafayette Street.

Thursday afternoon, immediately after the Senate vote, Garden State Equality will hold a news conference and a free member reception at the Trenton Marriott Ballroom, 1 West Lafayette Street.  We ask all of you, members and journalists, to be there.

For further information
Journalists:  Contact Chair Steven Goldstein, cell (917) 449-8918.
Members: Contact Co-Field Director Dani Bernstein, cell (909) 561-3738.