New Jersey Begins Offering Civil Unions to Gay Couples

[Zenlitened]

Congratulations to our G & L brothers and sisters everywhere.

This is a major step forward toward that most cherished of American ideals: Liberty and Justice for All.

Next step: the "M" word, "marriage." :hug:

New Jersey Begins Offering Civil Unions to Gay Couples
Associated Press
February 19, 2007 6:37 a.m.

Hundreds of gay couples received the same legal protections as married couples early Monday when a law took effect to make New Jersey the third U.S. state to offer civil unions.

The civil unions -- which offer the legal benefits but not the title of marriage -- were granted automatically to the hundreds of gay New Jersey couples who have been joined in civil unions or married in other states or nations.

At least one couple held a ceremony at the first possible moment. Steven Goldstein and Daniel Gross reaffirmed their Vermont civil union shortly after midnight. They would have had the rights in New Jersey even without holding a midnight ceremony here.

State Sen. Loretta Weinberg, a prime sponsor of the civil unions law who hosted ceremonies for couples including Messrs. Goldstein and Gross in her office, called the day "a big giant step forward." A handful of town halls across the state also opened at 12:01 a.m. to accept civil union license applications from couples who had not been so joined previously. They must wait 72 hours before they can hold civil union ceremonies, and several plan to exchange vows early Thursday.

More:
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/us/AP-Gay-Marriage-Partners.html

(Also: http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,,-6425695,00.html )

[Vidar]

1. Good for New Jersey

[leQ]

2. GO JERSEY!!

[rocktivity]

3. CUE THE VONAGE THEME!

But this has to be taken care of at the federal level. You can't legally married in one state and not another.

P.S. I don't to start pumping my own gas, though.

:woohoo:
rocknation

[redqueen]

4. YES!

:bounce:

[uppityperson]

5. Good for Jersey, a question

Congratulations on being able to be civilly unioned! Great to get the same legal protections! Good start.

Question: In how many other states can you have civil unions/marriages done? I found this paragraph in article, but was wondering about any other ones.

"Forty-five states have legal or constitutional bans on same-sex marriages. Only Massachusetts allows gay couples to marry, while California offers domestic partnerships"

[REACTIVATED IN CT]

6. CT has had CU's for a couple of years now n/t

[Zenlitened]

7. Vermont was first to offer civil unions as a step toward marriage fairness.

Then Connecticut and now New Jersey.

And of course (note boastful* tone of a Bay State booster here) Massachusetts was the first U.S. state to extend the right to marry to same-sex couples. :)

From Wikipedia:

As used in the United States, the term civil union connotes a status similar to marriage for same-sex couples; domestic partnership, offered by some states and municipalities, generally connotes a lesser status with fewer benefits, though this may vary.

The first civil unions in the United States were enacted by the state of Vermont in 2000. The federal government does not recognize these unions, and under the U.S. Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) of 1996, other U.S. states are not obliged to recognize them. By the end of 2006, Connecticut and New Jersey had also enacted civil union laws; furthermore, California's domestic partnership law had been expanded to the point that it became practically a civil union law, too. The same might be said for domestic partnership in Maine.

Link:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Civil_union

Though other, entire countries are light-years ahead, it has to be noted.

[Marrah_G]

15. Makes me very proud!

I expect the rest of the north east to follow suit with civil unions shortly and then it won't be much of a leap to marriage. I have found that my teenagers generation are pretty nochalant about it all, in their minds it is just silly that gays can't marry ( and I agree) So I have huge hopes that the generation coming up will finally rid us of some of the last of the civil rights issues. As time goes on in Mass I believe more and more people are realizing it just really isn't a big deal.

Added boastful note: I live in the first town to have a legally married gay mayor. Woo go Attleboro, MA!

[Zenlitened]

18. "The first town to have a legally married gay mayor."

:woohoo: Attleboro rocks!

[w4rma]

8. Awesome. (nt)

[redwitch]

9. as a former Jersey girl I say

a good beginning! Love is love and one of the ways we protect those we love is to make sure the law is looking out for them.

[LostinVA]

10. As a born-and-bred Jersey girl, I second that

[Drum]

11. A step in the correct direction.

Bravo NJ!

:thumbsup:

[tomg]

12. Good job Jersey. nt

[Jersey Ginny]

13. I love my state. NJ is a great place! We are making progress.

[CatholicEdHead]

14. Good for NJ

It is still illegal in Minnesota, but only by law and not amendment. Wisconsin on the other hand took a big step back last fall by making both illegal by amendment.

[HuffleClaw]

16. why are people permitting this outrage?

would they allow the government to call interracial weddings a 'special conjoining'? unless its a MARRIAGE certificate its pointless. and offensive.

[Zenlitened]

17. I disagree, I honestly do. I understand where you're coming from...

... Marriage is the goal, nothing more, nothing less. I think we agree there.

But IMO this is an important step that has an immediate, real impact on the lives of real people. Not pointless at all.

And in terms of strategy, I think it's important to (if I may turn an old phrase on its head) declare victory... and keep on fighting.

:hi:

[HuffleClaw]

20. imo, the problem is it lets them STOP at this

'don't worry, this is just as good as marriage'

'you should be grateful for what we gave you'

- - - that sort of thing. politicians aren't going to take any more 'steps' now.

[JerseygirlCT]

19. Welcome to the club, NJ.

One at a time, they'll all go this way.