A little NJ equality background:
New Jersey has been at the forefront of granting equal rights to LGBT folks for a long time. We were one of the first states to offer full civil unions in 2006. Additionally, a bi-partisan study was commissioned in 2008 by then-Governor Corzine to see whether or not civil unions were working. It found, unequivocally, that they do not work and are not "equal". This study formally recommended that full, unencumbered, marriage equality was the only way to achieve equality for all New Jerseyans.
So, I've been following the fight for equality in New Jersey for years now, and there have obviously been some major ups and downs during that time. When Jon Corzine was in the final throes of his governorship, many of us thought there was a real chance for actual legislative-sponsored marriage equality in this great state. Unfortunately, it seemed like politics played a roll in the 2010 equality vote, and things fell apart for a legislative remedy. This meant that the courts were our only option -- but things are slow in the courts.
The heartbreaking thing is that we now have enough votes for marriage equality to easily pass both houses of the New Jersey legislature, however, with Bush-cronie Chris Christie at the helm, even with these votes, he has promised to veto any marriage equality bill that crosses his desk.
Today I checked my email and had this message from Garden State Equality, the most active, and one of the country's biggest equality advocacy groups (and all amazing, awesome, incredible people!). Apparently our Senate President, Steve Sweeney, took to the Senate floor yesterday to issue an apology to his constituents for playing politics with last year's failed equality vote.
Via Garden State Equality:
In a dramatic public apology on the Senate floor today, New Jersey Senate President Steve Sweeney says his not voting for marriage equality was "the biggest mistake of my career"
...
Monday, June 20, 2011 -- New Jersey Senate President Steve Sweeney, the most powerful leader in New Jersey after the Governor, apologized on the floor of the state Senate today for his not voting for marriage equality in January 2010. When the Senate voted then, the New Jersey legislature was in post-election lame duck session and Democratic Governor Jon Corzine had days left to his term. Chris Christie's election had turned a sure thing into rapid collapse.
Today Senator Sweeney called his abstention – equal to a no vote in the New Jersey legislature – ”the biggest mistake of my legislative career."
Senate President Sweeney's exact words today:
"Seventeen months ago, I stood up here and made the biggest mistake of my legislative career. I made a decision based purely on political calculations not to vote in support of marriage equality. I failed in my responsibility as majority leader of this house of government to actually lead. I was wrong. To my fellow colleagues, to staff, and to those watching upstairs, let me tell you: never, ever again will I allow that to happen. The time for political calculations is over."
I'm honestly blown away by this. First by the admission of political calculations, and second by the courage it takes to admit such a shortcoming publicly. But part of me is having trouble feeling too warm towards Sweeney -- after all, his political wrangling played, in large part, into the hands of anti-equality folks who quashed that 2010 bill. I want to say "I forgive you, now let's get back to work", but it's so hard to do when you remember how close we came to marriage equality and how impossible it would be now, with our current GOP Governor at the helm.
Steve Goldstein, Garden State Equality Chair, is a lot more upbeat and forgiving:
Reaction of Garden State Equality Chair Steven Goldstein:
"We welcome Senate President Sweeney’s support with open arms. The world evolves, and our responsibility as advocates is not to hold grudges, but to pass laws.
"Today we indeed have the votes to pass marriage equality in both houses of the New Jersey legislature. But we do not have enough votes, to be sure, to override Governor Christie's veto. It means New Jersey will have to win marriage equality through other means."
I guess I can, after this all sinks in, get behind Goldstein's message of forgiveness and hope for the future, but it'll be tough. A large part of me still can't help but think "F*ck you, Sweeney, you sad, pathetic man." But at the same time, I feel like this admission from such a powerful government official, might end up doing a lot of good in the long run. The courage Sweeney showed by issuing this apology, in a most public way, and admitting to his political calculations, may help some other "politically expedient" politicians get to a point where they can vote their consciences and do the right thing. Baby steps.