NJ: Gay Marriage Bill Clears Senate Panel

A state Senate committee voted narrowly Monday night in favor of a proposal to permit gay couples to marry in New Jersey, a bill supporters hope to have Gov. Jon S. Corzine sign before he leaves office in six weeks. An hours-long hearing of the Senate Judiciary Committee packed with emotional testimony, both from couples who long for the right to marry and opponents who say that would undermine traditional marriage, started low-key but got testy as it continued late into the night. The vote on the bill, S-1967, was 7-6. Four of the five Republicans — Sens. Kip Bateman, Jennifer Beck, Gerald Cardinale and Joseph Kyrillos Jr. — voted against the bill, and Sen. Bill Baroni Jr., R-Mercer, voted in favor. It advanced by a one-vote margin, after two of the eight Democrats — Sens. John Girgenti and Paul A. Sarlo — voted against the bill, though its chances Thursday before the full Senate are less certain. "It is not often that we have a chance to change society and how we treat each other as human beings. It occurs a few times in our lifetimes, if it occurs at all. We have that opportunity today," said Sen. Raymond Lesniak, D-Union. "We can change fear to love, hate to compassion, cruelty to kindness. Those who oppose gay marriage are not unloving, hateful or cruel. But our law, which does not allow for gay marriage, provides a safe haven for those who are." Full Story from the Daily Record: http://www.dailyrecord.com/article/20091208/UPDATES01/91208009/State-Senate-panel-OKs-N.J.-gay-marriage-bill

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