New Jersey must recognize same-sex unions!
In a closely watch legal battle, the New Jersey Supreme Court ruled today that same-sex couples are entitled the same rights as heterosexuals. However, it left open to the legislature to pass either Civil Unions or Gay Marriage within 180 days.
"The issue is not about the transformation of the traditional definition of marriage, but about the unequal dispensation of benefits and privileges to one of two similarly situated classes of people," the court said in its 4-3 ruling.
Many had hoped that liberal court would have issues a ruling in complete favour of only same-sex marriage. The dissenting side stated that gay marriage was constitutional right disagree with allowing lawmakers to decide.
The case was brought seven couples, represented by Lambda Legal, who were refused marriage license in 2002. In 2004 New Jersey passed a Domestic Partnership Law that allowed some of the rights of marriage.
“To comply with the equal protection guarantee of Article I, Paragraph 1 of the New Jersey Constitution, the State must provide to committed same-sex couples, on equal terms, the full 65 rights and benefits enjoyed by heterosexual married couples," the ruling said.
"So help us God, New Jersey's LGBTI community and our millions of straight allies will settle for nothing less than 100% marriage equality," said Steven Goldstein, the chair of Garden State Equality.
Hope Wall
"The issue is not about the transformation of the traditional definition of marriage, but about the unequal dispensation of benefits and privileges to one of two similarly situated classes of people," the court said in its 4-3 ruling.
Many had hoped that liberal court would have issues a ruling in complete favour of only same-sex marriage. The dissenting side stated that gay marriage was constitutional right disagree with allowing lawmakers to decide.
The case was brought seven couples, represented by Lambda Legal, who were refused marriage license in 2002. In 2004 New Jersey passed a Domestic Partnership Law that allowed some of the rights of marriage.
“To comply with the equal protection guarantee of Article I, Paragraph 1 of the New Jersey Constitution, the State must provide to committed same-sex couples, on equal terms, the full 65 rights and benefits enjoyed by heterosexual married couples," the ruling said.
"So help us God, New Jersey's LGBTI community and our millions of straight allies will settle for nothing less than 100% marriage equality," said Steven Goldstein, the chair of Garden State Equality.
Hope Wall
posted by LJKelley @ 13:18
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