Prominent N.J.
legislator voices support for marriage equality

The idea of moving beyond civil unions to provide full marriage rights to same-sex couples in New Jersey is gaining traction. A prominent New Jersey legislator who had not previously supported full marriage rights is now asking, "Why not gay marriage?"

Sen. Raymond Lesniak posted an entry on a New Jersey blog Thursday that concluded, "Allowing gay couples to marry is not going to repair the fabric of society, but it's not going to tear it apart either. To paraphrase John Lennon, let's give love a chance. We might just find it works."

The post came on the heels of a Garden State Equality poll that found 63% of people in New Jersey said they "would be fine" if the state legislature decided to grant gay couples full marriage rights because civil unions had failed to provide full equality under the law.

Steven Goldstein, chairman of Garden State Equality, said Lesniak is among a "handful of the most powerful politicians in New Jersey" and called the news "spectacular." (The Advocate)