NJ: Garden State Equality Cuts Off Democratic Party, Will Donate to Individual Candidates

Garden State Equality, New Jersey's largest gay rights advocate, announced Monday it would end donating to political parties. The new policy comes just weeks after the New Jersey Legislature overwhelmingly spurned a gay marriage bill. The group is one of the nation's largest to lobby lawmakers for gay rights and lists more than 65,000 active members.

While lawmaker's failure to approve gay nuptials was not listed as a reason for the new policy, the group did mention the loss in its statement.

“The only LGBT civil rights law New Jersey does not have is marriage equality,” the group said after listing several gay rights milestones. “After the state voted down a marriage bill earlier this year, Lambda Legal announced at a Garden State Equality news conference that our side is going back to court.”

Full Story from On Top Magazine
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NJ: Garden State Equality to Take Gay Marriage Back to Court in February

In spite of their recent set-back, LGBT activists in New Jersey continue to push forward with their efforts to extend marriage to same-sex couples The New Jersey State Senate voted 20-14 earlier this month against a bill that would have allowed gays and lesbians to marry in the Garden State. While many supporters left Trenton devastated, Steven Goldstein, chair and chief executive director of Garden State Equality, reiterated his vow to move forward.

"In no way is this back to the drawing board," he told EDGE. "The community has moved seamlessly and so rapidly towards the next phase, which is winning marriage equality in court. In order to win in a court of law, we have to win in the court of public opinion."

Goldstein’s organization continues to work alongside Lambda Legal to mount a legal challenge. The state Supreme Court ruled in 2006 it was unconstitutional to treat same-sex couples differently than their straight couples. Kevin Cathcart, executive director of Lambda Legal, hopes to have similar success in light of the state Senate’s vote.

Full Story from Edge Boston
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NJ: Gay Ex-Governor's Wife Against Gay Marriage

The ex-wife of New Jersey’s only openly gay ex-governor is declaring her opposition to gay marriage. In an interview Wednesday night, Dina Matos – who famously stood by the side of then-Gov. James McGreevey in Aug. 2004 when he proclaimed himself a “gay American” — said lawmakers in Trenton did the right thing last week in defeating gay marriage legislation. “We have the civil union law in place, which I think is wonderful,” Matos, whose marriage to McGreevey ended in 2008, said prior to addressing the Zonta Club of the Morristown Area. “I was raised a Catholic. I grew up in the church, so I believe in traditional marriage between a man and a woman,” Matos added. Full Story from Delaware Online: http://www.delawareonline.com/article/20100114/NEWS/100114015/McGreevey+s+ex-wife+Dina+Matos+comes+out+against+gay+marriage

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NJ: What really Happened to the Gay Marriage Bill

New Jersey’s fight over gay marriage was cast as a debate over civil rights and a new chapter in America’s culture wars. But Thursday’s state Senate defeat of the controversial bill, considered a "slam dunk" to pass just a few months ago, also was a simple case of what happens in the bare-knuckle world of New Jersey politics. Supporters and opponents said everything changed when Gov. Jon Corzine lost to Republican Chris Christie on Election Day. "A chilling effect," said Assembly Speaker Joe Roberts (D-Camden). What happened on the way to Thursday’s vote is also a tale of turnabout in a Legislature where personality conflicts, political intrigue and religious beliefs trumped what advocates called a "vote of conscience." Full Story from NJ.com: http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2010/01/gay_marriage_in_new_jersey_onc.html

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NJ: Gay Marriage Group to Withhold Money from Some Democratic Lawmakers

New Jersey’s most influential gay civil-rights group pledged Friday to withhold financial support from Democratic lawmakers who did not vote for the same-sex marriage bill. The lack of campaign contributions will cost future candidates hundreds of thousands of dollars, according to Steven Goldstein of Teaneck, founder and director of Garden State Equality. Senator Loretta Weinberg comforts Steven Goldstein of Garden State Equality after the gay marriage bill was defeated at the Statehouse in Trenton. “The gay ATM is done,” Goldstein said. “In a bigger sense, the progressive [issues] ATM is done.” The state Senate on Thursday defeated the gay-marriage bill, 20-14, with three Democrats not voting: Sen. Paul Sarlo of Wood-Ridge, incoming Senate President Steve Sweeney of Gloucester County and Sen. James Beach of Camden County. Two other senators were absent; another seat is vacant. Full Story from NJ.com: http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2010/01/garden_state_equality_pledges.html

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NJ: How the Senators Voted on Gay Marriage

The 20-14 roll call vote by which the New Jersey Senate on Thursday defeated a bill to legalize gay marriage. Voting "no" were 6 Democrats and 14 Republicans. Voting "yes" were 13 Democrats and 1 Republican. It would have taken 21 "yes" votes to pass. Democrats - Yes Buono, Metuchen; Codey, West Orange; Cunningham, Jersey City; Gill, Montclair; Gordon, Fair Lawn; Lesniak, Elizabeth; Ruiz, Newark; Scutari, Linden; Smith, Piscataway; Stack, Union City; Vitale, Woodbridge; Weinberg, Teaneck; Whalen, Atlantic City. Democrats - No Girgenti, Hawthorne; Madden, Washington Township, Gloucester County; Rice, Newark; Sacco, North Bergen; Turner, Trenton; Van Drew, Dennis. Democrats - Not voting Beach, Voorhees; Sarlo, Wood-Ridge; Sweeney, West Deptford. Republicans - Yes Baroni, Hamilton. Republicans - No Bateman, Branchburg; Beck, Red Bank; Bucco, Denville; Cardinale, Demarest; Connors, Surf City; Doherty, Washington Township, Warren County; Haines, Springfield; S. Kean, Wall; T. Kean, Westfield; Kyrillos, Middletown; Oroho, Franklin Borough; O'Toole, Cedar Grove; Pennacchio, Montville; Singer, Lakewood. Republicans - Not voting Allen, Edgewater Park; Ciesla, Brick. Full Story from the Daily Record: http://www.dailyrecord.com/article/20100108/UPDATES01/301080003/1005/NEWS01

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NJ: Marriage Equality Groups to Petition Supreme Court

Gay rights activists failed in their attempt to have New Jersey become the sixth state to legalize gay marriage when a bill fell far short of passage Thursday in the state Senate. By a 20-14 vote, the Senate rejected the measure, despite a 100-minute debate dominated by legislators urging its passage and the presence of hundreds of gay rights activists. Five state senators did not vote on the measure, including Sen. Stephen M. Sweeney, D-Camden, who is expected to be named the Senate president later this month, and Sen. James Beach, D-Camden. Sen. Andrew R. Ciesla, R-Ocean, was absent. Sen. Bill Baroni Jr., R-Mercer, was the only one of the upper house's 17 Republicans to vote for the legislation. ... After the vote, gay rights activists vowed to go to the state Supreme Court, where they planned to argue that the state's civil union law has failed to provide equal rights and that the current law is a violation of the freedom of religion for those denominations that recognize homosexual marriage. Full Story from the Daily Record: http://www.dailyrecord.com/article/20100108/COMMUNITIES/301080004/1005/news01/Activists-plan-NJ-Supreme-Court-fight

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NJ: Gay Marriage Bill Defeated in Senate by 20-14

A bill which would legalise gay marriage in New Jersey failed in the state Senate yesterday. It was defeated by 20-14 votes. The vote was a last-ditch bid to push the bill through before new governor Chris Christie takes office later this month. He has said he does not support marriage for same-sex couples. A vote in December was delayed because supporting senators did not believe the bill had enough votes to pass. Current governor Jim Corzine said he was "deeply disappointed" the bill did not pass. Gay rights advocates are already planning a legal challenge against the decision. Full Story from Pink News: http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2010/01/08/gay-marriage-bill-fails-in-new-jersey-senate/

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NJ: Senate to Vote on Gay Marriage Bill Tomorrow

New Jersey's Senate will vote tomorrow on gay marriage in a final attempt to pass the bill before a new governor takes office. A vote was cancelled in early December after Democrats were reportedly concerned the bill did not have enough votes to pass. Outgoing governor Jim Corzine has said he will sign the bill but his successor Chris Christie takes over later on January 19th and has made his opposition to gay marriage clear. If successful in the Senate, the bill must pass the Assembly before going for governor approval. Full Story from Pink News: http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2010/01/06/new-jersey-in-last-ditch-vote-on-gay-marriage/

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NJ: Could a Republican Help Bring Gay Marriage to New Jersey?

Contrary to popular belief, New Jersey's same sex marriage equality legislation isn't dead yet. When the bill cleared the state Senate Judiciary Committee last month, marriage equality supporters didn't see the votes in the full body and decided to move it in the state Assembly first to create some momentum. But though they have the votes, the Assembly leadership wasn't going to play along. They insisted the Senate vote first (and have promised to move the bill on Monday if it clears the upper chamber). The Senate votes Thursday. Currently, there are five Democratic Senators voting no. That means at least three Republicans are needed to pass. Right now, there is only one -- which is still one more than the New York state Senate had. Full Story from the Huffington Post: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/john-bohrer/the-republican-who-might_b_413057.html

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NJ: Rally Thursday in Trenton at The Statehouse

Just got this from Garden State Equality:

As you know, the state Senate votes Thursday on the marriage equality bill - it's the vote of a lifetime. Please join us Thursday in Trenton at 10:30 am or earlier. This email is to suggest what you can do on Wednesday, including how to call your own state Senator. Please read this whole e-mail; it has lots of important information. Before we get to calling your Senator on Wednesday, an update on Thursday's logistics. When you come to Trenton on Thursday, please wear your blue EQUALITY The American dream t-shirt from the last few weeks' Garden State Equality events at the State House. It's more important than ever. Our opponents have started wearing their own red anti-marriage equality t-shirts. If you don't have one of our t-shirts, we'll give you one free on Thursday. But we don't have many left, so please wear one if you have one. On Thursday, please meet us in front of the State House at 10:30 am or earlier - many of us will be there earlier organizing the day and we'd love your help. You can park at the Trenton Marriott, 1 West Lafayette Street. Please note - unlike most of our previous events, we're not meeting first at the Garden State Equality office across from the State House. We're meeting right in front of the State House, 125 West State Street. On Thursday, we'll meet legislators until the Senate votes in the afternoon. Immediately after the Senate votes, Garden State Equality invites you to join us at a news conference and FREE pasta dinner reception at the Trenton Marriott, which is a short walk from the State House. Our volunteers will lead you from the State House to the Marriott. Now here's what you can do on Wednesday: We say this so many times, it must sound like a cliche. Our apologies. But it really is true: The best way for us to get a crowd - and we want our biggest crowd ever for the Senate vote - is for you to forward our emails to everyone you know. There is simply no better way to organize in big numbers. So on Wednesday, please forward this email to as many people as possible. On Wednesday, please call your own state Senator. It's so important. Visit www.gardenstateequality.org/officials/call.html, where you can enter your zip code and find out whom your Senator is, as well as his or her phone number and email. When you're at that portal, please click on state officials, not federal officials. When you see the name of your state Senator, call the phone number at his or her district office, not State House office. Senators and their staff will be at their district offices on Wednesday. Also at that portal, we provide tips for calling your Senator. The only tips to ignore there are those which tell you to ask for a meeting. The vote is Thursday - you just want to express your view right on the phone. On Wednesday, after you've called your state Senator, if you have time, consider emailing him or her. Visit www.gardenstateequality.org/officials/emailmarriage.html, where we have pointers for what you can include in your email. Again, don't worry about asking for a meeting. Finally, if you have time during the day on Wednesday to volunteer at any of our Garden State Equality offices, we'd love you to join us. We have offices in Montclair, Trenton, Asbury Park and Collingswood. The addresses for the four offices are at www.gardenstateequality.org/contactus.html. If you have any questions about volunteering, please call our co-field director Dani Bernstein at mobile (909) 561-3738. Thank you from the heart for all you do. We have the greatest members in the world and we appreciate you all so much.

NJ: Final Effort for Gay Marriage Vote

Gay-rights advocates in New Jersey made what could be a last-ditch push yesterday to persuade lawmakers to legalize gay marriage quickly. At a time when lawmakers are calling the issue a matter of conscience, activists have been pushing the idea that some religious leaders are accepting of same-sex marriage. "It's not about religion," said the Rev. Joseph Harmon, pastor of the Episcopal Church of the Incarnation in Jersey City. "People who won't want to do it for religion reasons don't have to." A group of about 150 clergy of various faiths sent lawmakers a letter making a similar argument and asking them to support gay marriage. Full Story from the Philadelphia Inquirer: http://www.philly.com/inquirer/local/20100105_N_J__rally_backs_gay_marriage.html

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NJ: Gay Marriage Supporters Ask for Thursday Vote

A contentious gay marriage bill in the New Jersey Legislature will face a major obstacle to passage on Thursday, January 7, if its sponsors get their way. Democratic Senators Loretta Weinberg and Raymond Lesniak have asked Senate President Richard Codey, a Democrat from Essex, to hold a floor vote on the bill Thursday. Democrats control the Senate with two votes to spare but remain divided on the bill. The bill was punted back to the Senate on New Year's Eve when Assembly Speaker Joe Roberts, a Democrat from Camden, said he had heard enough on the bill and was prepared to put the bill up for a vote without a committee hearing but added that the Assembly would not go first in voting for the measure. Full Story from On Top Magazine: http://www.ontopmag.com/article.aspx?id=5068&MediaType=1&Category=26

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NJ: Assembly Speaker Refuses to Take Up Gay Marriage Bill Again

In a setback for same-sex marriage in New Jersey, a bill to legalize it will not get an Assembly hearing on Monday. WNYC's Bob Hennelly has this update. REPORTER: In a statement released on New Year's Eve, outgoing Assembly Speaker Joe Roberts said the marathon public hearing on the bill, held in early December by the Senate Judiciary Committee, was sufficient. That committee narrowly approved the marriage equality measure. Roberts did say that if the full Senate passes the controversial bill, he'll allow an up-or-down vote on it by the full Assembly before the end of the current session. That's when Governor Corzine leaves office, and he's pledged to sign the bill. Full Story from WNYC: http://www.wnyc.org/news/articles/147371

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NJ: No Sign of Gay Marriage on the Agenda

The push to legalize gay marriage in New Jersey could fail without a vote being cast in the Legislature. While the likelihood of a vote has yet to be determined, opponents of gay marriage are preparing to declare the measure dead while advocates insist there's still time to pass a law before the governor switch next month. Gov. Jon Corzine, a Democrat, says he'd sign the bill if lawmakers can get it to his desk while he's still in office. At noon Jan. 19, he'll be replaced by Republican Chris Christie, who says he would veto the bill. Gay marriage is recognized in four states: Connecticut, Iowa, Massachusetts and Vermont. A law to legalize it in New Hampshire takes effect Friday. The Washington, D.C., City Council voted last month to legalize gay marriage, but that law is still subject to congressional approval. Full Story from the Courier Post Online: http://www.courierpostonline.com/article/20091231/NEWS01/912310331/1006

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NJ: Dissolving a Civil Union Takes Longer, Costs More Than Divorce

For same-sex couples unhappy in their civil unions, breaking up is hard to do. For starters, ending a civil union is called "dissolution," not "divorce," and legal experts say the difference between those two words has created confusion over which laws and cases apply to civil unions. "You end up with one set of rules for one thing and another set of rules for another thing," said Stephen Hyland, 56, a family practice lawyer in Cherry Hill who represents gay clients. Lawyers familiar with the issue also say it’s harder to divvy up assets or assign alimony because there’s virtually no case precedent for ending civil unions and divorce precedents are not always applied to dissolutions. Sorting out the unions then can take longer and cost clients more than it would if they were ending a traditional marriage. Full Story from NJ.com: http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2009/12/nj_gay_couples_looking_for_a_c.html

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NJ: Grandmother Pushes for Gay Marriage Vote

Loretta Weinberg, the Democratic senator from Teaneck, has less than a month to get a same-sex marriage bill on the governor's desk. And if she fails? She'll wait. Try again. For Weinberg, it tends to work. Her needle-exchange legislation, drafted to prevent the spread of disease among intravenous drug users, took 15 years to become law. A ban on indoor smoking, 10 years. A reduced blood-alcohol limit to define drunken driving, 10 years. "I'm an eternal optimist," she says. "If I weren't, I wouldn't be in this business." The sunlight in her Teaneck office is strong, nearly blinding, and Weinberg shifts behind her desk, nods toward a darkened conference room. She recalls the moment she became a grandmother, six years ago, when her son-in-law phoned from the delivery room and broadcast the infant's cries. Weinberg herself began to weep, right in front of her guests, a group that was supporting her domestic-partnership bill. Full Story from NorthJersey.com: http://www.northjersey.com/news/80125387.html

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NJ: Gay Marriage Bill Dead?

Legislation that would grant gays and lesbians the right to marry in New Jersey appears dead. It’s a question of arithmetic. At least four of the state Senate’s 23 Democrats are expected to vote against the legislation, leaving it two shy of the 21 votes needed to get it through the Senate. That means two Republican votes are needed for the Freedom of Religion and Equality in Civil Marriage Act to pass. It has to pass both houses of the Legislature — it appears to have the votes in the Assembly — and get to Gov. Jon Corzine’s desk before his successor, Christopher Christie, takes office on Jan. 19. Mr. Christie has said he will veto the legislation. State Sen. Bill Baroni, a Hamilton Republican who represents parts of Mercer and Middlesex counties, voted in favor of the bill in the Senate Judiciary Committee and will do so again if the bill ever makes it to the Senate floor. Expectations were that at least one moderate Republican — one of the five others who backed the state’s civil unions bill — would join Sen. Baroni on the right side of history. Full Story from CentralJersey.com: http://centraljersey.com/articles/2009/12/22/opinions/doc4b31590dcd59f799453819.txt

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NJ: 5 Moderate Republicans Will Not Vote for Gay Marriage

Five moderate Republican state senators who have been under pressure to support gay marriage said yesterday that they would not vote for a bill allowing same-sex couples to wed in New Jersey. Instead, they favor strengthening and enforcing the state's civil-union law, which they said gives gay and lesbian couples the benefits of marriage without the title. Advocates for same-sex marriage say civil unions confer a status that is separate and not equal. Opponents say the Legislature should not alter the traditional definition of marriage. "I really appreciate their recognition that civil unions are not working and do not provide equal protection under the law," said Sen. Raymond Lesniak (D., Union), a cosponsor of the gay marriage bill. "I think we can convince these well-intentioned senators that separate can never be equal." Full Story from Philly.com: http://www.philly.com/philly/news/local/79707947.html

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NJ: Asbury Park to Pass Gay Marriage Resolution

City Council members said Wednesday night they plan to approve a resolution in support of marriage equality, possibly as soon as a special meeting scheduled for 10 a.m. Dec. 24 on an unrelated matter. "I think this is part of the path forward," Mayor Ed Johnson said Wednesday. Once passed, Asbury Park would become the fourth municipality in the state to support gay marriage. Previously, Maplewood, Red Bank and South Orange endorsed marriage equality, said Steven Goldstein, chairperson of Garden State Equality, the organization lobbying hard for the state marriage equality bill, now expected to see its next action in January. Full Story from APP.com: http://www.app.com/article/20091216/NEWS/912160408/Asbury-Park-set-to-OK-gay-marriage-resolution

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