News
2006-10-07
New Jersey
governor won't fight same-sex marriage
New Jersey
governor Jon Corzine won't try to ban same-sex marriage if
the New Jersey supreme court finds that it's
c
New Jersey
governor Jon Corzine won't try to ban same-sex marriage if
the New Jersey supreme court finds that it's
constitutional, a spokesman said. A ruling is expected
by October 25 in a lawsuit filed by seven gay and
lesbian couples seeking marriage licenses in the state.
Opponents of
same-sex marriage held a rally at the statehouse on
Thursday, calling on the court to uphold marriage as a
union between a man and a woman. According to a report
in the Asbury Park Press, nearly 200 protesters,
including clergy and conservative groups, sang, prayed, and
pleaded with the state supreme court and the
legislature to not allow same-sex marriage in New
Jersey.
In front of a
white banner showing outlines of a man, a woman, and a
child, the activists said same-sex marriage is not a civil
rights issue and that children would suffer if
gays were allowed to marry. But Steven Goldstein,
chairman of gay-rights group Garden State Equality,
challenged the idea that the fight for same-sex marriage is
not a civil rights issue. "There are 1,138 rights
given to straight married couples, and gay couples get
none of them. If that doesn't make marriage equality
for gay couples a civil rights issue, I don't know what
does," Goldstein told the paper. (AP contributed to this
report)
Click here to follow The Advocate on Twitter.
Page 1 of 1