Poll: N.J. voters back marriage equality
By EditorMost New Jerseyans support same sex marriage and an even greater percentage have no problem if the state joins Massachusetts and California in passing a same sex marriage law, according to a Zogby International poll conducted by Garden State Equality, a civil rights organization that advocates marriage equality and other gay rights issues.
By a 50%-42% margin, likely New Jersey voters support allowing same sex couples to marry. 59% say they would be fine with a same sex marriage law, and 57% say New Jersey should recognize same sex marriages that took place outside New Jersey.
Asked if allowing same sex marriage would “hurt the institution of marriage for heterosexual couples,” 67% of voters said it would make no difference; 30% said same sex marriage would hurt the institution of marriage.
State legislators who vote in favor of same sex marriage would get re-elected, according to 71% of the likely voters surveyed.
“No one should doubt the meaning of these numbers,” said Steven Goldstein, chair of Garden State Equality. “New Jersey wants to end discrimination in marriage, and is ready for our public officials to do it right now. The civil union law is one the greatest civil rights failures of our time. New Jersey sees that, and understands that justice delayed is justice denied.”
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Goldstein
If Steven Goldstein is so confident in these findings, he should put his money where his mouth is and let it be put to a vote instead of going through the judicial system to get his way which we know is going to happen because that is what marxist mobsters always do.
Back up your rhetoric, Don Goldstein. Let the people vote.
He sucks you guys right in. So consider yourself sucked!- Bill Parcells
While I agree
I completely agree with the sentiment behind the poll. I support Gay Marraige 100% and think that it is time to step into the future. I have toadmit that this poll is as reliable as the poll showing Zimmer ahead of Lautenberg. I would say that significant support for gay marriage exists in NJ, but Dino makes a good point. A vote to permit gay marriage in the state would likely be voted down. On the other hand I support the attempts to mkae it legal through the courts, segregation was legal and had it been up to the voters would have stayed legal in many parts of the South. Marriage discrimination is no different. Perhaps my wife and I will get divorced and register for a civil union...why am I not able to get a civil union simply because I am heterosexual
Democracy
this post edited
This is the Future: Get Used to It...
I bet that among people under 30 this would pass with 60% approval, or greater....and if you make that under 20 I'd say it was 75% approval.
Letting Gays have the same rights as everyone else is no real threat to anyone, except the bigots.
God is not threatened or diminished in the slightest by Marriage Equality. On the contrary, I believe She's quite pleased to see joyful loving committed relationships of all stripes!
Catholics and other denominations for whom it's not yet theologically acceptable (that might take another hundred years ;-) would still have all their religious rights preserved; and rightly so!
This is a civil rights issue, not a religious rights issue.
The world didn't end when women and people of color were granted their voting rights (it got better!!!); and it won't end when the Gays are also equal under the law in re marriage.
Thanks be to God for human mortality! Without that feature there could be no evolutionary progression!
Each generation is a bit more decent and progressive than the prior one (the bigoted old farts eventually die off).....and that's a good thing!
By the way.....If anyone here can articulate a sane, sensible rationale for being against marriage equality; please put it forth for public examination and scrutiny, thanks!
From Frederick Douglass
We shouldn't put equal
We shouldn't put equal rights to a referendum. Heck, if there were referendums on slavery the majority of the country would have supported slavery. Same goes for right to vote, segregation, etc...
The man and woman "definition" of marriage is a religious tradition. Allowing gays to enjoy those EXACT same rights without limitation poses no threat to anyone.
Aside from the "tradition" argument, which is religious, there is no logical way that allowing gays to marry in the eyes of civil law will affect anyone's family values or morality.
Put it to a vote!
Let the people decide! That's what democracy is all about.
"I figure people drift toward liberalism at a young age, and I always hope that they change when they see how the world really is.”
- Johnny Ramone
More important issues
This underlines the fact that New Jersey voters are pretty smart. They would rather foucs on more important issues than who marries who. We have a fiscal crisis here and the voters are far more concerned about that.
Let the people decide
That argument is not exactly practicle. If the people hold irrational and ignorant views on gay rights its exactly like asking racists to vote on segregation.
Gay Marriage is a Bad idea
The arguements that somehow try to equate "gay" marriage as some kind of civil right are laughable. No one is taking away or giving any right that doesn't already exist. That being the right of one man to marry one woman. Every person over the age of consent has this right. What is being asked for is a right that does not exist, nor has ever been approved by any legislative body or referendum in the United States.
Let us say for the sake of arguement that this gets approved. What pray tell makes you think that other worthwhile groups such as polygamists, MAMBLA and the like won't want to get in on the act? I suppose my real question is what makes your perversion more deserving of legitimacy than any one elses?
As for the poster who stated that each generation gets a little more "progressive" and that the "old bigoted farts" are dying off and that is a "good thing" all I can say is examine your conscience, if you have one.
"Most NJians?"
Of course there is no bias in that first sentence. When did 50-43 become "Most?" How about taking your pro-gay rights beliefs out of your writing !!
A more accurate first sentence would start: "In a recent poll of 1000 (or whatever number were polled) New Jersey residence, 50% believe that gay marriage/rights ...., while 41% are opposed to such laws being adopted by the state."
How about accuracy and non-biased reporting PLEASE !!
"Most NJians?"
Of course there is no bias in that first sentence. When did 50-43 become "Most?" How about taking your pro-gay rights beliefs out of your writing !!
A more accurate first sentence would start: "In a recent poll of 1000 (or whatever number were polled) New Jersey residence, 50% believe that gay marriage/rights ...., while 43% are opposed to such laws being adopted by the state."
How about accuracy and non-biased reporting PLEASE !!
Let the people decide
SJBLUE: The point is a simple one. If a true majority (as the article says) are in favor of gay marriage, then the majority will prevail. If the majority are against it, then again, the majority will prevail. This is a democracy, where the majority make their voices heard through a vote, it is not a system where the loud minority get their way through a government dictate that is not supported by the majority of the citizens.
To your comparison of racism, just stop it. It is not the same thing at all.
I gotta go, I am marrying my dog this evening.