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New Jersey
In October 2006, the NJ Supreme Court issued a unanimous ruling in recognition of the equal needs and common humanity of committed same-sex couples and their kids. The Court said these American families are entitled to equal rights and responsibilities under the law. The legislature was told to pass legislation representing this decision. Unfortunately, New Jersey's legislature failed to provide equality and quickly passed a civil unions bill which took affect in January 2007.
Along with passing the civil union bill, the legislature set up a Civil Union Review Commission to study the implementation of civil unions and whether or not they fulfill the court's ruling. The commission has found ample evidence that civil unions are separate and unequal to marriage, and indeed are failing New Jersey families. The New Jersey legislature failed to change the law in 2009, so now Lambda Legal and Garden State Equality are going back to court to seek equality.
TAKE ACTION in New Jersey Today
FROM EVAN WOLFSON:
"Marriage Makes a Word of
Difference"
Evan Wolfson answers the question so often asked of same-sex
couples wanting to end their exclusion from marriage, "Why
can't you just call it something else?," by explaining how
the "clarity, security, and dignity [of the word marriage] is
precious and irreplaceable."
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WHERE YOU CAN GO TO GET INVOLVED OR LEARN MORE:
Garden State Equality
Garden State Equality didn't invent activism for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex civil rights in New Jersey, to be sure. But opinion leaders credit the organization with reinventing that activism dramatically.
Civil Unions Don't Work
You can witness the failure of New Jersey's civil union law through eight hours of evidence captured on videotape, read a report on the law, and much more.
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THE NUMBERS: POLLING & STATISTICS:
By a 49 - 43 percent margin, New Jersey voters support passing a bill ending the exclusion of same-sex couples from marriage. [Quinnipiac, April 2009]
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PUBLICATIONS:
New Jersey Freedom to Marry Educational Packet
New Jersey leaders, after you cut through the organized calls and
letters from both sides in the marriage debate, what's the bottom line?
Human suffering in the state we love. Garden State Equality highlights
personal stories from across New Jersey.
The Legal, Medical, Economic & Social Consequences of New Jersey’s Civil Union Law
In a unanimous vote, a blue-ribbon state government commission issues its final report to Governor Corzine and the legislature, recommending they enact a marriage equality law.
The Impact of Extending Marriage to Same-Sex Couples on the New Jersey Budget
The Williams Institute at UCLA School of Law released a new research study analyzing the economic gains that marriage equality in New Jersey would bring.
First Interim Report of the New Jersey Civil Union Review Commission
The New Jersey Civil Union Review Commission published a report which determined New Jersey's civil union law "is not clear to the general public" and "creates a second-class status" for those who have filed for civil unions, among many other challenges that prove the law does not accomplish what it was intended to do--provide protections and benefits of marriage to same-sex couples and their families.
Unanimous NJ High Court decision requires equal treatment for gay couples and their families
Four justices said gay and lesbian couples must be given all the rights and protections of marriage. Three, including retiring Chief Justice Poritz and new Chief Justice Zazzali, would have ended the exclusion from marriage immediately. It is now up to the legislature to finish the job.
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NEWS:
View news about the fight for the freedom to marry in New Jersey.
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MULTIMEDIA:
Louise and Marsha
Louise and Marsha talk about why civil unions are separate and not equal to marriage.
Gov. Corzine Announces Support for Marriage Equality
At Garden State Equality's Legends Dinner, Governor Corzine spoke out in support of marriage equality saying more emphatically than ever before, "I support marriage equality" and he also stressed the need to do it in 2009.
Civil Unions Don't Work
Watch videos explaining why civil unions don't work and learn more about what is going on in New Jersey to win marriage equality.
RADIO AD: Help
Listen to Garden State Equality's radio commercial about how civil unions don't work, produced by Tom Oppel of All Points Communications.
New Jersey's Chief Opponent of Marriage Equality Says Letting Same-Sex Couples Marry Would Not Affect His Marriage
February 20, 2008
New Jersey’s chief opponent of marriage equality, John Tomicki of the New Jersey Coalition to Preserve and Protect Marriage, stated yesterday that marriage equality for same-sex couples would not affect his marriage. His sweeping, quite puzzled response, “Why would it?” demolishes the argument that ending discrimination in marriage would destroy the institution.
Busy Family
YouTube.com
November 6, 2007
Garden State Equality's commercial "Busy Family" is a cinema verite-style portrait of a real-life same-sex couple at home with their two kids. As the couple feeds their kids in a busy scene typical of any family, President Bush is seen on a television in their living room, delivering a speech to Congress about his belief that committed same-sex couples should be banned from marriage.
The story behind 'Think Equal'
Think Equal Ads
Blue Jersey
December 11, 2006
After the elections, I had been thinking about the NJ Supreme Court's decision on same-sex couples, and wanted to do something for equality.
I wasn't quite sure what I — a straight political junkie kid — had to offer... One of the things we felt we could address is how the netroots talks about marriage. Often, we ignore the substance of the issue to discuss the politics — how the right uses it as a distraction, how silly their attacks are, and what's the best way for candidates to approach the issue. In doing so, it makes us think marriage is being discussed, but it's really not.
Video archive of the Supreme Court's oral arguments
February 15, 2006
Listen to oral arguments in New Jersey's marriage equality case.
Laurel Hester Commercial
Garden State Equality
View an ad that Garden State Equality aired for marriage equality on News 12 New Jersey.
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You can witness the failure of New Jersey's civil union law through eight hours of evidence captured on videotape, read a report on the law, and much more.
In a unanimous vote, a blue-ribbon state government commission issues its final report to Governor Corzine and the legislature, recommending they enact a marriage equality law. (pdf Link)
Garden State Equality's commercial "Busy Family" is a cinema verite-style portrait of a real-life same-sex couple at home with their two kids. As the couple feeds their kids in a busy scene typical of any family, President Bush is seen on a television in their living room, delivering a speech to Congress about his belief that committed same-sex couples should be banned from marriage.
