The New Jersey Senate Judiciary committee is debating equal marriage rights now. Debate could last for as much as six hours. The measure is expected to pass (but we know how that goes), and be voted on by the full New Jersey Senate on Thursday. From there it would have to go to the Assembly, where its fate is uncertain.
You can follow a live blog on Blue Jersey, or follow the debate itself via a live stream.
I ran across a moving piece of testimony that may be given today. It's by a 13 year old girl living with two moms. Here are some excerpts.
My name is Jessie Petrow-Cohen and I live with my moms, my sister, my three dogs, our gecko, our hermit crabs, our guinea pigs and our snails in Maplewood, NJ. To me a family is a group of people who love each other and are willing to do anything for one another...
I feel that my family is no different. Except for just one thing, in New Jersey where we live together, we are a family, but legally we are not...
The only thing that’s different about my family and every one of yours is that we have to stand here and ask you if we can legally be a family, when you can be one without asking anyone. I think that us having to do something like that may just make our love stronger, but it’s gotten to the point where it just isn’t fair...
So please, I would really like to be able to dance at my parents’ wedding. Thank you for inviting me here today.
Read the whole piece.