Opinion: Same-Sex Marriage Poses No Political Threat to Gov. Christie

Opinion: Same-Sex Marriage Poses No Political Threat to Gov. Christie (via NJSpotlight)

While New Jersey’s gay community is understandably encouraged by the recent Superior Court decision declaring a prohibition on same-sex marriage unconstitutional, the cold reality is that the stronger hand is still held by its chief opponent, Gov.…

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Christie Administration will appeal Gay Marriage decision

Governor Christie’s press office just issued the following statement:

“Governor Christie has always maintained that he would abide by the will of the voters on the issue of marriage equality and called for it to be on the ballot this Election Day.  Since the legislature refused to allow the people to decide expeditiously, we will let the Supreme Court make this constitutional determination.”

Today’s decision requiring the state to officiate same-sex marriages was made by Superior Court Judge Mary Jacobson sitting in Mercer County.  In order for the Supreme Court to decide the constitutionality the issue, Jacobson’s ruling will have to be appealed.

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Same Sex Marriage Is Legal In New Jersey

A Superior Court Judge in Mercer County ruled that New Jersey officials must begin officiating same sex marriages by October 21, according to a report in The Star Ledger.

Superior Court Judge Mary Jacobson granted an emergency request by six gay couples, ordering state officials to begin officiating same-sex marriages on Oct. 21.

“The ineligibility of same-sex couples for federal benefits is currently harming same-sex couples in New Jersey in a wide range of contexts,” she wrote.

For example, the judge said, “civil union partners who are federal employees living in New Jersey are ineligible for marital rights with regard to the federal pension system, all civil union partners who are employees working for businesses to which the Family and Medical Leave Act applies may not rely on its statutory protections for spouses, and civil union couples may not access the federal tax benefits that married couples enjoy.”

Jacobson was asked to square the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling in June striking down the Defense of Marriage Act with New Jersey’s own legal precedents.

Governor Christie’s press office declined to say, on the phone, if Judge Jacobson’s decision would be appealed. They said a statement might be emailed to the press later today. UPDATE: The Christie administration will appeal Jacobson’s ruling.

Judge Jacobson’s decision can be viewed here:

NJGayMarriage

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O’Scanlon Reiterates His Support Of Gay Marriage

Various news sources are reporting that Assemblyman Declan O’Scanlon (R-Monmouth) has “broken with Governor Christie” over the issue of same sex marriage.

The news reports are inaccurate.

O’Scanlon was never “with” Governor Christie on the same sex marriage issue. He’s been on the record as favoring the Marriage Equality and Religious Exemptions Act since February of 2012 when the bill passed both houses of the legislature and was vetoed by Christie.

O’Scanlon was absent from the February 2012 vote because he was attending Senator Jennifer Beck’s wedding in Jamaica.   Upon his return to New Jersey, he told triCityNews that he would have voted for the bill had he been present and that he would vote to override Christie’s veto if it ever comes up for a vote.

triCityNews is not published online.  Publisher Dan Jacobson verified my recollection of O’Scanlon’s quotes on the phone this evening.

The issue is in the news again because marriage equality advocates have been in Trenton this week lobbying for an override of Christie’s veto before the end of the legislative session in January.

The Marriage Equality and Religious Exemptions Act passed the Senate with a vote of 24-16 and the Assembly by 42-33, with 5 Assembly members, including O’Scanlon and Mary Pat Angelini not voting.   An override requires a 2/3 affirmative vote.  In order for an override to succeed, the bill needs three additional yes votes in the Senate and 12 yes votes in the Assembly. O’Scanlon and Angelini represent two of the needed yes votes. Republican Assemblywoman Holly Schepisi of Bergen County also didn’t vote in 2012.  Schepisi said she would vote to override, leaving the bill needing 9 votes to pass in the Assembly.

If there is a override vote, it probably won’t occur until the “lame duck” session after the November election and before the new legislature takes office in January.

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Both GOP Candidates Favor Marriage Equality

The two candidates competing for the Republican nomination to complete the late U. S. Senator Frank Lautenberg’s term favor same sex marriage being legal.

Reacting to the U. S. Supreme Court’s decision overturning the Defense of Marriage Act, former Bogota Mayor Steve Lonegan said,

“Today’s decision is the unfortunate result of an activist, liberal court that has little respect for the Constitution and our nation’s founding principles. While I believe government should not be in the business of marriage, it is not the Supreme Court’s responsibility to make that decision. Laws should be made by legislatures, not by unelected judges. To do so is a usurpation of our democratic tradition at the heart of this country’s founding.”

I wonder if Lonegan would have called the decision “unfortunate” if the Court ruled that the government should not be in the business of marriage.

UPDATE  A few readers have mentioned that Lonegan’s statement does not make it clear that he favors marriage equality.  Here it is: While I believe government should not be in the business of marriage ….

If government doesn’t regulate marriage and who can get married, than same sex couples can be married.

Dr. Alieta Eck said,

“While I personally believe that traditional marriage is an important institution to defend, the Supreme Court was correct in rejecting a federal attempt to define it. Marriage is a religious institution. There was a time when the general consensus agreed with organized religion, but those times have passed. We must never abandon the Constitution in guarding equal protection and free association under the law.”

The four candidates competing for the Democratic Senate nomination, Newark Mayor Cory Booker, Congressman Frank Pallone, Congressman Rush Holt and Assembly Speaker Sheila Oliver also support marriage equality.

The Democratic and Republican nominations for Senate will be decided in special primaries to be held on August 13.  The new senator will be elected in a special election to be held on October 16.

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SCOTUS: Same Sex Marriage Is Legal In California

The Supreme Court of the United States ruled on jurisdictional grounds that the Supreme Court of California had the right to overturn the Proposition 8 referendum to amended the State’s which made same sex marriage illegal.

The effect of the ruling is that same sex marriage is legal in California.

From SCOTUSblog:

Here’s a Plain English take on Hollingsworth v. Perry, the challenge to the constitutionality of California’s Proposition 8, which bans same-sex marriage:  After the two same-sex couples filed their challenge to Proposition 8 in federal court in California, the California government officials who would normally have defended the law in court, declined to do so.  So the proponents of Proposition 8 stepped in to defend the law, and the California Supreme Court (in response to a request by the lower court) ruled that they could do so under state law.  But today the Supreme Court held that the proponents do not have the legal right to defend the law in court.  As a result, it held, the decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, the intermediate appellate court, has no legal force, and it sent the case back to that court with instructions for it to dismiss the case

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Buono’s Daughter Comes Out Against Christie

Tessa Bitterman, State Senator Barbara Buono’s 23 year old daughter, sent a fundraising email to her mother’s supporters this morning where in she declared she is gay and blasted Governor Chris Christie for vetoing same sex marriage.

Growing up, my mom was always there for me no matter what. I’m gay and from an early age I felt free to express myself with my mother, knowing she would always support me for who I am.

As a gay American I have a stake in what our governor says about marriage equality. And I have been deeply shocked by Chris Christie. As governor, he has been a giant roadblock to New Jersey achieving equality for all. By failing to support marriage equality, Christie is blatantly delegitimizing an entire group of people.

I have also seen Chris Christie misrepresent himself as a moderate to New Jersey – that’s why it’s even more important to stop him before he takes his radical show on the road when he goes national after this election.

My mom is facing a huge deadline on June 30th at midnight. If we want to stop Christie – if we want to keep his politics of polarizing and dividing people from spreading beyond New Jersey – we’ve got to click here and donate to my mom’s campaign before the big deadline on Sunday.

Now that Christie is running for re-election, he is more than happy to try and portray himself as a moderate. But the truth is – his record scares me. It scares me because if he takes his brand of deception national, all Americans are in for a rude awakening.

It might not seem like a lot but anything you donate now will go a long way. Can you click here and donate today?

Thanks,

Tessa

Bitterman, of San Francisco, California, is Buono’s daughter by her first husband, Lawrence Bitterman.

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Q Poll: New Jersey Wants to Reelect Christie, Divided On Presidential Bid

Partisan control preference of State Legislature narrows

Support for same-sex marriage grows strongly

New Jersey voters’ affections for Governor Chris Christie are not waning, according to a Quinnipiac Poll released this morning.

70% approve of the Christie’s job performance, including 48% of Democrats.  66% think he deserves to be reelected.  Democrats narrowly side with reelecting the governor, 44%-43% with 13% unsure or not answering.

The 13% of unsure Democrats may not know who Barbara Buono is. “Corzine’s Budget Chair,” as Christie refers to the presumed Democratic gubernatorial nominee on the stump, is unknown by 79% of the electorate, including 79% of Democrats.  Of the 20% who know of Buono, only half view her favorably.  Buono’s name recognition ticked up 4 points since Q’s February poll when only half of the then 16% of voters viewed her favorably.  If this trend continues through November, Buono will be known by 56% of the voters, 28% of whom will view her unfavorably.

If the election were held today, Christie would win, 60%-25%.

41% think Christie would make a good president.  44% think he would not make a good president. 15% are unsure.  46% would like to see him run for president in 2016, 47% would rather he did not.

On the question of which party should control the State Legislature, the Democrats still win, but the trend has been moving towards the Republican Party since November.  Currently 43% favor Democratic control, 42% favor Republican control and 15% are not sure.

Support for same-sex marriage in New Jersey has grown strongly since last May when 53% told Quinnipiac they favored it and 42% opposed it.  In today’s poll, 60% favor same-sex marriage and 30% oppose.

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My fellow Republicans: Abortion takes an innocent life – same sex marriage does not

By Alan Steinberg

I am a pro-life person and opposed to abortion, except in order to save the life of the mother. Many times, my beliefs on social and moral issues are based on Orthodox Judaism, my religion, Orthodox Judaism is somewhat complex on the abortion issue, although far more pro-life than pro-choice. My pro-life views, however, are based upon my own study of the science of the issue. I believe that a fetus is life, and since I venerate life, I oppose abortion, except to save the life of the mother.

By the way, there have been over the years a multitude of statements, including from that great Torah sage, Gloria Allred, claiming that on the abortion issue, Judaism is pro-choice. While my political and moral beliefs on abortion are not based upon the Torah and the tenets of Orthodox Judaism, they are not inconsistent with them either. If somebody wants to read a short, concise summary of Orthodox Judaism and the abortion issue, I recommend the following page from the Aish HaTorah website:

http://www.aish.com/ci/sam/48954946.html

My views on the same sex marriage issue are another matter.

Orthodox Judaism is vehemently anti-homosexuality. Yet I read something recently on the Chabad Lubavitch website which really hit home with me: “Torah law expressly forbids the specific act of male homosexuality. And we do know this: Torah law forbids bigotry; homophobia is prohibited.”

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Garden State Equality Launches Campaign To Convert Chick-fil-A Operators To Their Cause

Garden State Equality is out to convert New Jersey Chick-fil-A franchisees to their pro-gay marriage cause.

GSE President Steve Goldstein sent the following message to email list this morning:

Today, Friday, August 3, 2012 is Garden State Equality’s Dialogue Day with Chick-Fil-A.  If you live or work in New Jersey, we’d like you to call the operator of your nearest Chick-Fil-A restaurant in New Jersey today, to ask him or her to meet with a local group of Garden State Equality members.  We want the operators to see and hear in person how the national owners’ anti-LGBT advocacy hurts real people deeply – families, couples and children who yearn for equality.   We ask you to call today even if you personally may not be able to join such a meeting.

Instructions:
1.   Below please find a list of the 22 Chick-Fil-A stores across New Jersey with the store locations, phone numbers and individual operators’ names.  Ask for the operator by name.  If he or she isn’t there, you can ask to speak to the senior manager on duty.
2.   When you call, say:  “I’m a member of Garden State Equality and we want equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people.   We know the national owners of Chick-Fil-A don’t believe in equality, but we hope you may be fair.   We believe in talking and mutual respect.   Are you willing to meet a group of us in the next few weeks?”

3.   If the owner says no, express your pain, not anger, as you conclude the conversation quickly and respectfully.   Respond:  “I’m hurt you won’t meet us.   I’ll let others know.   I wish you well.”   Please do not engage in hostility.   We advocate equality in love.

4.   If the owner says maybe, respond:  “Then I’m going to call you back on Monday, is that okay?”   Then please do call back on Monday.

5.   If the owner says yes, respond:   “That’s great.  Before we set up a day and time, I’m going to talk to others to see their schedules.   I’m going to call you back next week, is that okay?”

6.   Then please email [email protected] your name and your phone number, the location below of the Chick-Fil-A you called – that’s important so we know which Chick-Fil-A you’re talking about – and the operator’s response, whether yes, no or maybe.   If the operator said yes, we will call you and other Garden State Equality members in your area next week so we can coordinate schedules to do the meeting.

We understand that activists in other states are staging “kiss-ins” at Chick-Fil-A stores.  We respect everyone who engages in the activism that inspires them.   At Garden State Equality, we’re aiming for something beyond one day.   We aim to start dialogues wherever we can.   We want everyone to see the love and commitment of families with LGBT people – indeed, to see all people as real people.   That, we believe, is the basis of winning equality everywhere.

Thank you all so much.  Immediately below is the list of the 22 Chick-Fil-A stores in New Jersey with their phone numbers and names of the store operators.  If the spirit moves you, please consider making a $13.00 donation today to Garden State Equality – that’s what it would cost a couple to eat a typical Chick-Fil-A meal.  A $26.00 donation would represent the cost for a family of four.   You can donate online at www.GardenStateEquality.org

Audubon, (856) 547-0815, operator Charles Bohs         Cherry Hill, Marlton Pike, (856) 488-9117, operator Dave Curran         Cherry Hill, Haddonfield Road, (856) 488-1600, operator Dave Curran         Delran, (856) 764-0765, operator Sal Miliziano         Deptford, Clements Bridge Road, (856) 853-0425, operator Doug Clark         Deptford, Deptford Mall, (856) 848-7712, operator Christian McGrory         Eatontown, (732) 542-2243, operator Jeff Bassett         Edison, (732) 548-6024, operator Travis Biggs         Egg Harbor, (609) 407-4900, operator Amy McCloy         Galloway, the Stockton College Chick-Fil-A is closed for the summer.  Please call the next closest store.         Hamilton, (609) 581-7601, operator John Velarde         Howell, (732) 730-9033, operator Ted Reim         Marlton, (856) 985-4391, operator Brian Bowman         Mount Laurel, Centerton Road, (856) 439-2696, operators Brian Bowman or Bob Mancini         Mount Laurel, (856) 778-1900, Nixon Drive, operator Bob Mancini         Paramus, (201) 967-9494, operator Ken Walsh         Sewell, (856) 464-2277, operator Jeff Price         Sicklerville, (856) 262-0002, operator Burley Clark         Turnersville, (856) 228-2111, operator Burley Clark         Vineland, (856) 327-4414, operator Phil Kelley         Voorhees, (856) 772-2201, operator Zach Johnson         Woodbridge, (732) 634-8981, operator Jim Strole

UPDATE

The Associated Press is reporting that gay rights activists are planning a ‘Kiss In’ today at Chick-fil-A restaurants throughout the country.  Protestors of Chick-fil-A CEO Dan Cathy’s stand for traditional marriage are being encouraged to go Chick-fil-A stores and kiss a fellow demonstrator of the same gender.

AP quotes one organizer, Carly McGehee of Dallas as saying she hopes the protest “helps LGBT (lesbian, gay, bi-sexual and transgender) youth who feel isolated and are victims of bullying.”

Is isolation and bullying a problem for only gay youth?  Are gay activists encouraging same sex marriages for youths?

Earlier this week The Asbury Park Press quoted Goldstein as saying that Garden State Equality does not support the ‘Kiss In.’  Rather, GSE would reach out to Chick-fil-A operators, as they are today.  Goldstein said some of the operators are “in deep with us,” according to APP.

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