Over 200 key Dems push Legislature to pass marriage equality
By Editor | December 1st, 2009 - 10:12amIn a strongly worded letter, more than 200 top Democratic activists are calling on Democratic legislators to enact marriage equality legislation.
"New Jersey has a proud history of supporting civil rights. It was this legacy that encouraged many of us to become involved in politics. We believe that allowing committed gay and lesbian couples to marry is, at its core, about treating our family members, friends, co-workers, and neighbors with dignity and respect," the letter reads. "We appreciate that this is a difficult issue for some state legislators. But marriage equality is an idea whose time has come. We are confident that the voters will stand by those elected officials who do the right thing."
The letter to Democratic legislators was signed by a combination of veteran party leaders, young staffers, major fundraisers, political consultants and operatives, and local elected officials. Signers include Newark Mayor Cory Booker and U.S. Reps. Rush Holt, Frank Pallone and Steven Rothman.
The state's Democratic leadership had committed to supporting the legalization of same sex marriage after the General Election, but Gov. Jon Corzine's defeat has caused some Democratic legislators to back off their support. Gov.-elect Christopher Christie, a Republican, has said he would veto marriage equality legislation, which means Democrats have a narrow window if they want to enact the law.
The list represents a huge collection of names of those who play key roles in getting Democrats elected in New Jersey.
"A lot of us are feeling let down, especially younger Democrats," said Ronald C. Rice, a member of the Newark City Council. "We sense there is an enthusiasm gap in Democratic support for this legislation, and we are asking Democrats to live up to the mandate set for them by their own party."
"We are saying to lawmakers that you have relied on many of us to get the vote out for you in election after election. Now we are relying on you to vote on an issue that goes to the heart of why so many of us became involved in Democratic politics in the first place," said Julie Roginsky, a Democratic consultant.
Victor Herlinsky, a lawyer and prominent Democratic fundraiser, says that "people have worked hard to raise money to support Democratic lawmakers precisely because they are Democrats and support the party's progressive social policies."
"We understand that not every member agrees on this issue, but it's time for Democrats to be democratic and vote up or down on marriage equality," said Herlinsky. "People have a right to know where their representatives stand on this issue."
Paul Josephson, a former Chief Counsel to the Governor, says that New Jersey's civil union law, enacted after a ruling by the state Supreme Court three years ago, has failed to provide the same rights as legal marriage.
"The civil union is an experiment that has failed. It attempted to offer gay and lesbian couples the legal rights of marriage without actually calling it marriage," said Josephson, the Counsel to the Democratic State Committee who ran the State's Division of Law in 2003 and 2004 and has represented many Democratic candidates.
"Separate but equal is not equal. As the Civil Union Review Commission found, gay and lesbian couples still face serious hurdles in obtaining equal health benefits and medical attention simply because they are not technically 'married' under New Jersey law. In the real world, civil union provides an incomplete bundle of rights. "
Josephson says there is no room in New Jersey for discrimination.
"We haven't fought these battles only to do the safe thing. We didn't become Democrats to tolerate an injustice. We became Democrats to fight injustice. Let's right this once and for all," Josephson said.
The full list of signers:
Philip Alagia
Stephanie Albanese
Albert Alvarez
Hiver Ambrose
Rob Angelo
Byron Arnao
Paul Aronsohn
Frank Askin
Alison Badgett
Ann Baker
Edward Barocas
John Bartlett
Elsbeth Battel
Dan Benson
Rosemary Bernardi
Michael Beson
Ravinder S. Bhalla
Randy Bishop
Rick Bolger
Peter Bondi
Cory Booker
John Borowsky
Barry Brendel
Kelsi Browning
Tonio Burgos
Marge Caldwell-Wilson
Aaron Carter
Jason Cassese
Leah Casterlin
Bill Castner
Salma Chand
Ron Chen
Colleen Connolly
Tai Cooper
Rob Corrales
Maureen Coxwell
Jenny Crumiller
Jeff Curley
Sean Darcy
Bob DeCheine
Lizette Delgado-Polanco
David DelVecchio
Steve DeMicco
Shane Derris
George Devanney
Donna Dolce
Chris Donnelly
Craig Dorsett
Janellen Duffy
Liz Duthie
Charles Eader
Rosi Efthim
Paul Eisenman
Michael Embrich
John Evans
Everette Falt
Ben Feldman
June Fischer
MichaelAaron Flicker
Janice Fuller
John Fuller
Karen Gaffney
Allen Gannett
Jeff Gardner
Rob Garrison
James Gee
Angelo J. Genova
Mike Giglio
Brendan Gill
John Gizis
Jen Godoski
Chad Goerner
Adam Goldfarb
Steven Goldstein
Vin Gopal
Jeff Grayzel
Adam Green
Marta Harrison
Avery Hart
Maria Havasy
Joshua Henne
Victor Herlinsky
Carol Hoernlein
Rush Holt
Deborah Howlett
Rafi Jafri
Michele Jaker
Kyle Jasey
Bianca Jerez
Paul Josephson
Jeffrey Kaszerman
Dan Katz
Michael Kempner
Sheila Kenny
Steven W. Kleinman
Justin Kolman
Janice Kovach
Orin S. Kramer
April Kuzas
Adam Lambert
Justin Lambert
Tim Larsen
Jay Lassiter
Brad Lawrence
Bertin Lefkovic
Chris Leitner
Liz Lempert
Steve Lenox
Cathleen Lewis
Juanita Lewis
Kay LiCausi
Mada Liebman
Brooke Liebowitz
Doris Lin
Jose Lozano
Ian MacAllen
Blair MacInness
Gordon MacInness
Colleen Mahr
Francisco Maldano-Ramirez
Claire Manning
James W. Manning, Jr.
Marcia Marley
Laura Matos
Mark Matzen
Rocco A. Mazza
John McCarthy
Raymond J. McCarthy
Regan McGrory
Matt McHale
Jack McHugh
Pat McKenna
Cathy McLaughlin
Juan Melli
Alicia Menendez
Rob Menendez, Jr.
Naomi Michaelis
Ruth Miller
Bernie Miller
Maggie Moran
Tricia Mueller
Neil Mullin, Esq.
Lauren Murphy
Michael Murphy
Rachel Napear
Adam Neary
William Northgrave
Joseph Novick
Ed Oatman
Lucy O'Brien
Bonne O'Flanagan
Kat Orr
Frank Pallone
Jim C. Peeler
Desiree Peterkin
Cristina Pinzon
Barbara Plumeri
Braxton J. Plummer
Andrew Poag
Michael Premo
Dan Preston
Ronald C. Rice
Chip Robinson
Julie Roginsky
Arlene Romoff
Mariel Rosen
Hetty Rosenstein
Keith M. Rosso
Steve Rothman
Nathan Rudy
Jorge Santos
Peg Schaffer
Julie Schreck
Carolyn Schwebel
John C. Schwebel
Michael Sedita
Jed Seltzer
Shawn Sheekey
Scott Shields
Zach Silber
Troy Singleton
Babs Siperstein
David Smith
Nancy Erika Smith
Vincent Solomeno
Robert Sommer
James Souder
Jason Springer
Domenick Stampone
Adam Steinberger
Jake Stuiver
Carol Tangorra
Rosanna J. Tangorra
Earl Thomas Teasley
Brett Tinder
John Valentine
Frank Vespa-Papaleo
Tom Vincz
Joe Waks
Mike Wallace
Elnardo Webster
Dana Wefer
Scott Weingart
Terry West
Joseph Wojtecki
Betty Wyka
Tom Wyka
David York
Alison Zayas
Joshua Zeitz
Harry Zikas, Jr.
Dawn Zimmer
Matt Zinader
Ed Zipprich
The full text of the letter:
AN OPEN LETTER CALLING ON DEMOCRATIC LEGISLATORS
TO POST MARRIAGE EQUALITY LEGISLATION FOR A VOTE
We believe that equality and fairness are fundamental principles of New Jersey's Democratic Party, and that is why we call on the state legislature to vote immediately on, and pass, the marriage equality bill.
New Jersey has a proud history of supporting civil rights. It was this legacy that encouraged many of us to become involved in politics. We believe that allowing committed gay and lesbian couples to marry is, at its core, about treating our family members, friends, coworkers, and neighbors with dignity and respect.
We appreciate that this is a difficult issue for some state legislators. But marriage equality is an idea whose time has come. We are confident that the voters will stand by those elected officials who do the right thing.
When our children and grandchildren look back on this moment, we want to be able to tell them that we, too, did the right thing.
As Martin Luther King poignantly reminded us, "the arc of the moral universe is long but it bends toward justice." That is why we're proud to lend our names and our voices to this important cause. We do so in our capacity as private citizens and Democratic voters, and not on behalf of any particular office or organization.
Wake-Up Call
Morning News Digest: February 9, 2010
Garden State Equality fires new broadside at Dems Smarting over the state Senate's refusal to pass marriage equality and disillusioned at the moment with the Democratic Party majority, Garden State Equality’s 85-member Board of Directors unanimously decided against giving financial contributions to political parties and their affiliated committees. ...
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If you want to legislate...
...then run for the Legislature.
Otherwise, keep your contributions, and especially any discussion of them and your demands for official government acts in the same breath.
Glad you posted the names
we now know of who must be voted out of office
Its time
Simply put its time to recognize gays and lesbians as equal members of our society. No one should be treated like a second class citizen. Its time for Gay Marriage.
mrb..
wish you posted your name, so we know who doesnt believe in equality
Re-districting
will cause many to lose their seat if they get this one wrong. The better course of action is to let the people decide and put the question on the ballot. Afterall, this is how slavery was ended, women were given the right to vote, and the voting age was reduced to 18. There would be one big difference. Unlike those previous occasions, those looking to benefit from a new law would actually be given the opportunity to vote for it.
Any action during a lame-duck session casts a shadow of illegitimacy upon it.
Under the Civil Unions statute
Gay's are entitled as the same rights as married couples (N.J.S.A. 37:1-31 and 37:1-32 (taken from the NJ Legislature website), after you read it and you will see Civil Unions have all of the legal rights and privileges of heterosexual married couples .Let the public vote ,and see if they support the preservation of marriage or not .
DiMarc and MRB
DiMarc-Your history is wayyyyyyyy off. MRB seperate but equal is unconstitutional
Timing is everything
They had the last 4 to 8 years for this legislation; why this push now?
Are they, the Democrats, going to have a vote after January 19th to push the new Governor to veto it?
Another power play to ignite their base because turn out was so bad last election! We see right through you.................
seperate but equal ...........
interesting ,if you feel that way ,you should be trying to find satisfaction in a court of law not in the Political arena
BurlGOP, MRB
The Dems didnt vote for it purely for political reasons. They were trying to keep the far right at home on election day this year and they failed. It is an objective failure on part of the Democratic (and frankly the Republican parrty) that marriage equality isnt a debate of the past. MRB-"satisfaction" on seperate but equal was decided in Brown vs. Board of Education. But that decision (that seperate but equal institutions is unconstitutional) has not been fulfilled as it relates to marriage equality. Thus, to ensure that rights are protected I look to the political realm.
Blue
Question...you keep refering to a legal standard and it seems that you think that if it is the law then it right...are you prepared to say that? I would bet that you could recite numerous laws that are unfair or that you disagree with based purely on your political beliefs. Therefore I think you should respect those who feel that gays should not be entitled to any special rights under a seperate law drafted specicaly for them.
I also think you are comparing apples to oranges when you cite Brown V Board of Ed. No gays are forced to go to another school. We are not saying that blacks cant marry or even whites and blacks cant marry each other.
This about the traditional meaning of marriage. One man one woman. Pretty cut and dry
"I also think you are
"I also think you are comparing apples to oranges when you cite Brown V Board of Ed. No gays are forced to go to another school."
And I doubt Africans were forced to go to segregated schools. They simply could not go to the white ones.
Africans didn't have to ride buses either, but if they did they had to sit in the back. Civil Unions are just the 21st century equivalent of sitting in the back of the bus.
christiegonewild.blogspot.com
"Afterall, this is how
"Afterall, this is how slavery was ended,"
Only in Missouri, Kentucky, Delaware and Maryland. In the other states they were freed by presidential proclamation which was never put to a vote by Congress.
"The better course of action is to let the people decide and put the question on the ballot."
If the people decided, Africans would be attending segregated schools and women would be having back alley abortions.
christiegonewild.blogspot.com
A list of insiders, hacks and other political operatives.
Nearly everyone on this list works for the government for some politico, consults Democratic campaigns or organizartions, or is a professional service that bills government for their services.
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Never again will you have a Democratic Party as liberal as it was under Corzine and never again will you see that kind of clout by the undersigned in future Democratic Party administrations.
There was a sea change not only in party, but in philosophy. Lonegan moved the GOP dial to the right in the primary and Sweeney is doing the same within the Democratic Party statewide.
The Essex Democrats have all but annointed Chris Christie with a second term before he served a first. The West Essex suburbs spoke loudly and DiVincenzo would be in trouble if the GOP actually ran a candidate against him come November but the party of O'Toole is squarely in the hip pocket of Adubato, et al...
Vote Column - All the way!
Interesting Read
http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/news/press/atlantic/article_dfcccda4-...
Your "facts" are wrong
Slavery ended with the passing of the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments to our Constitution.
Your other statement is pure speculation.
Separate but equal
If Civil Unions were permitted for people of the opposite gender then their would be no separation. Currently, the civil union statute discriminates against heterosexuals.
Di Marco
heterosexuals 62 yr and above can avail themselves of civil union. That is one of the reasons it got past.
SDEM
"I also think you are comparing apples to oranges when you cite Brown V Board of Ed. No gays are forced to go to another school. We are not saying that blacks cant marry or even whites and blacks cant marry each other." I'm pretty sure we discussed this already, but Brown v. Board decided not only the case-but a precedent of Constitutional Law. That decision applies to the interpreation of the Constitution and though this case was specifically about Education, it declared that in the United States seperate but equal instiutions are not eqaul.
bitaryo
I am not a lawyer but my reading of the statute seems to say if someone over the age of 62 was in a domestic partnership at the time of the civil union law they could opt to convert to a civil union. After that, those wanting domestic partnerships had to be over 62 and civil unions from that point forward would only apply to people of the same sex.
Here are the applicable sections:
C.26:8A-4.1 Limitation on domestic partnerships on or after February 19, 2007; effect of law establishing civil unions.
91. On or after the effective date of this act, no domestic partnerships shall be registered under P.L.2003, c. 246 (C.26:8A-1 et al.), except that two persons who are each 62 years of age or older may establish a domestic partnership pursuant to the provisions of P.L.2003, c.246 (C.26:8A-1 et al.). This act shall not alter the rights and responsibilities of domestic partnerships existing before the effective date of this act, except that eligible domestic partners shall be given notice and opportunity to enter into a civil union pursuant to the provisions of this act. Entry into a civil union, when joined by both parties to an existing domestic partnership, shall operate to terminate the domestic partnership.
and
C.37:1-30 Requirements to establish a civil union.
3. For two persons to establish a civil union in this State, it shall be necessary that they satisfy all of the following criteria:
a. Not be a party to another civil union, domestic partnership or marriage in this State;
b. Be of the same sex; and
c. Be at least 18 years of age, except as provided in section 10 of this act.
Therefore, unless I am reading this wrong or missed something, the civil union statute clearly discriminates against heterosexuals. Opening it up to heterosexuals would eliminate any separate but equal issues.