NJ. State Senate approves bill giving legal rights to same-sex couples

The General Assembly has already passed it and McGreevey will definitely sign it. This is very good news for New Jersey.

http://www.nj.com/newsflash/topstories/index.ssf?/base/news-6/1073594942316270.xml

TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — Gay and lesbian advocates cheered, hugged and some openly wept as the state Senate voted Thursday to give them many of the same rights as legally married couples.

Without a word of opposition, the Senate voted 23-9 to approve a bill granting those rights. Gov. James E. McGreevey is likely to sign the measure into law shortly.

Gay and lesbian advocates campaigned to make New Jersey the fifth state to recognize domestic partners. Conservative and religious groups opposed the measure, saying it threatened traditional marriage values.

When the vote was tallied, many of the several hundred supporters who crammed into the Senate gallery cheered.

http://www.nj.com/newsflash/statehouse/index.ssf?/cgi-free/getstory_ssf.cgi?j0176_BC_NJ--Senate-RollCall-D&&news&njxgr
EDIT: This is a link to the roll call for anyone that might care to know how an individual state senator voted. Basically, 3 democrats abstained and the rest voted yes and 6 republicans voted yes while the rest either abstained or voted no.

Hooray!

My ex (Michelle) and her partner (Mary) were joined in a union ceremony in 1992. Michelle died of heart and kidney failure in 1998, and Mary went through legal hell....

But this is a big step forward for gays and lesbians in the Garden State.

The article quotes a member of that group in NJ. I'm so glad to be a member here in CA. And I'm so glad that NJ is passing legislation very similar to CA's AB 25 of 2001. There's a lot to celebrate!

I noted from the vote margin that at least a couple GOPers voted for the bill, and most others abstained... Here in this state, the GOP always votes as an anti-gay bloc.

Because the lovely mayor/dicator/state senator from Newark, Sharpe James decided to vote against the bill. So did democrats Harvey Smith and Stephen Sweeney. But, Bill Gormley, James Cafiero, John Bennett, Martha Bark, Robert Martin, and George Geist are all republicans who voted for it.

On the other hand, while CA GOPers are more anti-gay, I must say that out of 73 legislative Democrats in this state (interestingly, our assembly and senate have the same number of members each as NJ), only two Democrats voted against even more sweeping legislation last year, AB 205. They're both from Bakersfield, if you're familiar with it, that'll make sense. CA Democrats are among the most consistently pro-gay. Those who feed anti-gay bigotry pay the price and are shunned, rightfully so. Shame on Sharpe James.

Only Charlotte Vandervalk, Rose Marie Heck and Arline Friscia voted for it in the Assembly (All women). Friscia is basically a democrat though. She was a liberal democrat until she was ousted in the primary and became a republican to run for reelection.

http://www.actwin.com/eatonohio/gay/nja.html

That link shows how they voted including the democrats that didn't vote for it.

I am glad to see NJ continue to be a progressive leader! :bounce:

have had something to do with the fact that there is a right-to-marry case before the NJ court? Maybe they think by passing this law, the justices won't rule on the issue of marriage...or will consider the question answered and the case closed?

:shrug:

The domestic partnership bill falls far short of marriage rights. I don't know all the details but there do appear to be some holes in it.

I really doubt that the New Jersey Supreme Court will legalize gay marriage anyway. The Superior Court judge pretty much dismissed the case but urged the legislature to approve a civil union bill.

And I'm not sure if the Supreme Court will even hear the case. I know they are appealling it but I don't believe that a decision to hear the case has been made.

but there comes a point when it is inevitable.

As always in America, equality comes slowly but it seems to be coming. I hope gay people all remember who their enemies are when they enter the voting booths. The fact that 1.5 million of them voted rethug really has me scratching my head. :crazy:

a New Jersey resident. Way to go!

I cannot believe there is such as organization as the "Log Cabin Republicans" who consistently vote republican. I e-mailed them recently to ask how they can possibly support Republicans in any way, shape or form.

:bounce:

There are now going to be five states that recognize domestic partnerships. Massachusetts will be next. The next inevitable step will be marriage. Of course, the fight needs to continue.

I predict that you will see within the next five years a surge of states that begin to recognize domestic partnerships and civil unions. These will eventually become same-sex marriage rights.

The religious extremists are doing their best to close that barn door...they don't realize that the cultural horse has already left.