( Trenton, February 16, 2012 ) - Today, the New Jersey General Assembly voted to pass the marriage equality bill to end the exclusion of same-sex couples from marriage in the state. The New Jersey Senate passed the bill earlier this week. Lambda Legal urges Governor Christie to allow the bill to become law or asks that legislators override his veto, if necessary.
Lambda Legal Executive Director, Kevin Cathcart made the following statement:
"Today New Jersey's General Assembly rose above the political fray and did right by New Jersey's families. Governor Christie should follow their lead - but if he doesn't, legislators should continue to stand for equality and override his veto.
"Marriage equality in New Jersey is a matter of when - not if. New Jersey should choose to join the right side of history soon, because loving same-sex couples and their families should not have to wait any longer.
"We believe there are many paths to justice, and Lambda Legal continues to fight for marriage equality in the courts on behalf of seven same-sex couples, Garden State Equality, and all families in New Jersey. When Lambda Legal filed our first New Jersey marriage equality lawsuit in 2002, we knew we were all in for a long struggle. We have never stopped fighting for the rights of same-sex couples and their families in New Jersey while our colleagues advocate for justice in the legislature. Today we are optimistic that same-sex couples in New Jersey will be able to marry soon.
"It takes a lot of people working together to make history. We congratulate our colleagues at Garden State Equality, the courageous legislators who voted for equality, and all the advocates and allies across New Jersey who worked so hard for this victory."
NCLR responds to New Jersey marriage equality vote statement, by NCLR Executive Director Kate Kendell
( San Francisco, CA, February 16, 2012 ) —Today, the New Jersey State Assembly passed a bill establishing full marriage rights for same-sex couples. The New Jersey State Senate passed a companion bill on February 13, 2012. If Gov. Chris Christie signs the bill into law, New Jersey willbecome the 11th jurisdiction in the country in which same-sex couples can marry.
New Jersey joins seven other states, Washington D.C., and two tribal nations that no longer discriminate against same-sex couples in marriage.
Gov. Christie has publicly stated that he plans to veto the bill, and that the issue should be decided by state-wide referendum, but he has faced serious criticism for this position.
Statement by NCLR Executive Director Kate Kendell, Esq.:
"It is a testament to the hard work of our New Jersey friends and the arc of justice that the New Jersey legislature has passed a marriage bill. Governor Chris Christie has said he will veto the bill, suggesting that the voters should decide the civil rights of their neighbors. This position is a thinly veiled dodge of his responsibilities as governor. We urge Gov. Christie to demonstrate the courage his office demands and sign the bill that the elected representatives of the people of New Jersey support. By doing so he will strengthen the families, culture, and future of his state."
ACLU Statement On New Jersey Legislature Approving Marriage Bill
"Trenton's two-year evolution from just missing the opportunity to give couples the freedom to marry to enthusiastically sending it to the governor's desk this week has been remarkable, but we are far from achieving our ultimate goal: getting the bill signed into law," said Deborah Jacobs, executive director of the ACLU of New Jersey. "Even if it takes until the end of this legislative session, we have faith that enough legislators will recognize a piece of themselves in the stories of gay and lesbian couples who simply want the chance to fulfill their lives together without their love declared 'second-class.'"
"The fact that this is the second legislature in a week to grant marriage protection to all couples is a profoundly welcome sign that Americans support fairness for all families," said James Esseks, director of the ACLU Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transgender Project. "Committed couples deserve the security and dignity of knowing their families will have the same kind of protections that can only come with marriage."
