News
2007-02-13
N.J. gay marriage
foes gather signatures
Same-sex marriage
opponents launched a petition drive Monday in hopes of
persuading lawmakers to amend the state constitution to
in
Same-sex marriage
opponents launched a petition drive Monday in hopes of
persuading lawmakers to amend the state constitution to
include a definition of marriage as a union between a
man and a woman.
The drive comes a
week before New Jersey begins to allow gay couples to
legally unite in civil unions.
Legislative
leaders have refused to allow lawmakers to vote on a
proposal to amend the state constitution to include
the traditional definition of marriage. Unlike other
states where citizens can gather petitions and get a
measure on the ballot, New Jersey has no referendum
provision.
John Tomicki,
president of the New Jersey Coalition to Preserve and
Protect Marriage, said his group will try to get at least
20,000 signatures, hoping to persuade legislative
leaders to allow a vote on the proposal.
''Let's have the
people decide this issue, once and for all,'' said
Assemblyman Michael Doherty, a Republican.
Steven Goldstein,
chairman of Garden State Equality, said, ''The founders
of the New Jersey constitution recognized that civil rights
are a matter of constitutional rights, not popular
ones.''
New Jersey
lawmakers voted in December to create civil unions, a step
in gay rights that only three states have matched or
surpassed, after the state supreme court in October
forced their hand. The court ruled in favor of
extending all the rights of same-sex couples beyond the
domestic-partner benefits they now have.
Vermont and
Connecticut already have civil union laws. Massachusetts is
the only state to allow same-sex marriages.
Meanwhile, a bill
that would make Indiana the 27th state to define
marriage as the union of one man and one woman easily passed
the Republican-controlled Senate on Monday and heads
to the Democratic-controlled House.
If the House
approves the measure, it would be presented to Indiana
voters in 2008. (AP)
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