I'm sure you have heard by now that yesterday the New Jersey state Senate passed a marriage equality bill by a vote of 24-16.
And you probably also know that Chris Christie has promised to veto the bill.
It means the world isn't changing, it means the world has already changed. So wake up and smell the equality.
--Steven Goldstein, Garden States Equality
Before the vote, Marsha Shapiro squeezed the hand of her longtime partner Louise Walpin, and reflected on how a body that rejected gay marriage two years ago was about to change its stance. "The pride will overpower the sorrow," she said.
We’re elated. The country is looking at things differently than they were two years ago.
--Louise Walpin
The Assembly is expected to pass the bill on Thursday, but not by a large margin. Democrats have 48 of the 80 seats in the Assembly. 54 votes would be needed to override a threatened veto.
In 2006, the New Jersey's Supreme Court ruled that the state had to give the legal protections of marriage to committed gay and lesbian couples, but that it need not call those protections marriage.
So we got civil unions which have not provided equality, contrary to the edict of the Supreme Court. So there is also a court case going on.
Marriage equality was last considered in 2009 and the Senate rejected in 20-14. Some senators, like our former senator before we moved to West Orange, Ron Rice (D) still voted against marriage equality. This man tends to get about 80% of the vote. That needs to change. We are now represented by Sen. Richard Codey (right), the former governor who spoke in favor of and voted for the bill.
Senate President Stephen Sweeney, (D-Gloucester), abstained in 2009. He has called that the biggest mistake of his career.
A Christie veto would require a 2/3 vote to override. Proponents would have until January, 2014 to find the three more votes needed in the Senate. Sweeney says he already has a list, but won't disclose the names.
I’m telling you we can override and we will override. This is just the beginning of the fight.
--Sweeney
Co-sponsor Raymond Lesniak (D- Elizabeth) claims that if all senators voted their conscience rather than caving to political pressure, there would be enough votes to to override a veto. He also feels that some lawmakers may change their minds on the issue
You never know who's going to forward -- a daughter, a son, a neighbor of significant meaning of a senator or assemblyperson -- and change a mind.
Jennifer Beck, (R-Red Bank) was one of two Republicans who voted for equality.
It is our role to protect all of the people who live in our state.
Diane Allen (R-Burlington) also voted in favor or equality.
Two democrats voted against the bill: Ronald Rice (D-Essex) and Jeff Van Drew (D-Cape May).
Republicans, as you may have heard, are calling rather for there to be a statewide referendum on marriage equality.
not a chance in hell I will ever put a bill up that would allow a civil rights issue to be put on the ballot.
--Stephen Sweeney
The democratic process of electing political representatives to make statewide decisions as a legislative body is apparently beyond the republican mindset. They would rather the marriage equality issue became a carnival sideshow with the likes of Maggie Gallagher and the college of Catholic Bishops wielding more influence than they deserve (which is none) due to the amount of money and/or voter coercion they can generate.
I'm disappointed that Sen. Bateman would rather politicize an issue that should be a legislative vote of conscience rather than an opportunity by him and his allies to lessen the status and human dignity of gays and lesbians. Any time you provide voters an opportunity to make a judgment of one group over the other, it violates the Madisonian principle that are meant to protect majority whims over a given minority.
--Assembyman and equality bill sponsor Reed Gusciora (D-Mercer)
The one senator who spoke against the bill offer a slippery slope.
Incest produces negative impacts on our society. But if we open marriage to some same-sex couples in the name of anti-discrimination, why not to all couples?
--Gerald Cardinale (R-Bergen)
Including, no doubt, men and their animals, men with children, polygamy and all the other crap that festers in the republican mind.
With every word that pours out of his mouth, it’s like a small step up the aisle for me and other same-sex couples.
--Jay Lassiter, democratic gay activist from South Jersey, in re: Cardinale
Most recent polling has shown that 54 percent of New Jerseyans support marriage equality, with 39% opposed and 7% having no opinion on the issue.
Check that, this just in: new polling out of Rutgers-Eagleton now has 54% in favor of gay marriage and 35% opposed. But unfortunately 53% of voters support Christie's call for a referendum.
It may be that given several polls showing majority support among voters, supporters of same-sex marriage think it would win in November. But in the face of a likely intensive campaign from opponents, this could be wishful thinking,
--Pollster David Redlawsk, Rutgers University
There are always some people who just want to witness the demagoguery, just like there are always people who want to rubberneck the accident.