This isn't much of a diary, but I just wanted to share this awesome news with you all. After the unfortunate loss in New York, the neighboring Northeastern state of New Jersey will be attempting to pass a Marriage Equality law this coming week, with the state senate committee meeting as early as Monday, and voting as Early as Thursday!
Taken from The Record newspaper...
http://www.northjersey.com/...
N.J. Senate to take up gay marriage proposal next week
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Last updated: Thursday December 3, 2009, 4:56 PM
BY MARY FUCHS
State House Bureau
TRENTON -- The New Jersey gay marriage proposal will be considered Monday by a Senate committee and could be posted for a full senate vote later in the week, state Sen. Ray Lesniak said Thursday.
"On Monday in the Judiciary Committee, we're going to vote on marriage equality," Lesniak (D-Union) said, while making the announcement to a crowd of gay marriage supporters on the Statehouse steps today.
"On Thursday the full Senate is going to vote on marriage equality," said Lesniak, a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee." And God be willing, we'll have 21 votes."
Democratic officials previously said they would not put the legislation to a vote unless they had the support needed to pass it.
Senate President Richard Codey later confirmed that the full Senate will vote on the measure on Thursday.
About 650 people came here Thursday in support of the bill's passage. At least a dozen same-sex marriage opponents, mainly a group of Orthodox Jews from Lakewood, held a counter protest at the State House.
Both houses of the Legislature must pass the bill it before it goes to the governor. Outgoing Gov. Jon Corzine has said he would sign it. Incoming Gov. Chris Christie says he would veto it.
Lawmakers in New York on Wednesday rejected a same-sex marriage bill.
New Jersey currently has a civil unions law.
I also received an E-Mail from Garden State Equality that I'd like to share with anyone here from New Jersey. I won't be able to go to the rally because I can't take off work (I'm a police officer), but if you can go, please do it!
Subject: HUGE! THIS MONDAY, NJ SENATE COMMITTEE TO VOTE ON MARRIAGE BILL
From: "Garden State Equality" <goldstein@gardenstateequality.org>
Date: Thu, December 3, 2009 12:34 pm
If ever there was just one day in your life to take off from
work to be part of history, this Monday, December 7th is that
day.
URGENT, MASSIVE NEWS: THIS MONDAY IN TRENTON, THE SENATE
JUDICIARY COMMITTEE HOLDS A HEARING AND VOTES ON THE MARRIAGE
EQUALITY BILL. PLEASE DO EVERYTHING TO BE THERE. JOIN US AT
MONDAY 9:00 AM AT THE TRENTON MARRIOTT.
THE HEARING IS 1:00 PM THIS MONDAY, DECEMBER 7th AT THE STATE
HOUSE IN TRENTON.
WE ALL NEED TO BE THERE VERY EARLY TO GET SEATS.
GARDEN STATE EQUALITY ASKS YOU TO MEET US MONDAY 9:00 AM AT THE
TRENTON MARRIOTT, ONE WEST LAFAYETTE STREET, FOR FREE BREAKFAST
AND A KEY BRIEFING, AFTER WHICH WE WILL GO TO THE HEARING. PARK
AT THE MARRIOTT GARAGE.
We need the most massive crowd ever. Right this moment, please
forward this email to every supportive friend and colleague you
have and to every blog and list serv of which you are a member.
Questions? Steven Goldstein is at cell (917) 449-8918.
Thank you, the world's greatest activists, for getting us this
far.
LET'S GO NEW JERSEY!!!!