New Jersey court recognizes same-sex unions

[angela146]

From CNN.com... original story

TRENTON, New Jersey (AP) -- New Jersey's Supreme Court ruled Wednesday that same-sex couples are entitled to the same rights as heterosexual couples.

But the court left it to the Legislature to determine whether the state will honor gay marriage or some other form of civil union.

Advocates on both sides of the issue believed the state posed the best chance for gay marriage to win approval since Massachusetts became the only state to do so in 2003 because the New Jersey Supreme Court has a history of extending civil rights protections.

Instead, the high court stopped short of fully approving gay marriage and gave lawmakers 180 days to rewrite marriage laws to either include gay couples or create new civil unions.

 

[angela146]

Summary from the NJ Supreme Court

HELD: Denying committed same-sex couples the financial and social benefits and privileges given to their married heterosexual counterparts bears no substantial relationship to a legitimate governmental purpose. The Court holds that under the equal protection guarantee of Article I, Paragraph 1 of the New Jersey Constitution, committed samesex couples must be afforded on equal terms the same rights and benefits enjoyed by opposite-sex couples under the civil marriage statutes. The name to be given to the statutory scheme that provides full rights and benefits to samesex couples, whether marriage or some other term, is a matter left to the democratic process.

 

[Zeb_Carter]

Good news for couples, no matter their sexual orientation. Now too see what the state legislature comes up with in 180 days.

 

[TheeGoatPig]

I live in New Jersey, and I'm against this. Not because I discriminate against same sex couples, but because they just won the right to ruin their relationships by way of making it legal, and therefore sucking the fun right out of it all.

My advice to everyone: Don't get Married!

 

[Liar]

I live in New Jersey, and I'm against this. Not because I discriminate against same sex couples, but because they just won the right to ruin their relationships by way of making it legal, and therefore sucking the fun right out of it all.

Hey, why should only the gays have the privilige not to get married? 'snot fair.

 

[TheeGoatPig]

Hey, why should only the gays have the privilige not to get married? 'snot fair.

Good point. Ban marriage! Make life more fun!

 

[cheerful_deviant]

I live in New Jersey, and I'm against this. Not because I discriminate against same sex couples, but because they just won the right to ruin their relationships by way of making it legal, and therefore sucking the fun right out of it all.

My advice to everyone: Don't get Married!

They have every right to be just as miserable as the rest of us!