This is a monumental day in New Jersey, which now becomes only the third state in the nation to allow civil unions between same-sex couples.
Hundreds of couples waited overnight and began filing the paperwork at midnight. Steven Goldstein and Daniel Gross, a Teaneck couple, said they wanted to be among the first gay men to have their relationship legally sanctioned by the state. "It's exciting to know that in the coming days and weeks so many couples in New Jersey will get additional rights and protection that they couldn't have had 15 minutes ago," Gross said. "It's not enough but it's a step in the right direction."
In December 2006, New Jersey became the third U.S. state to provide equal rights for same-sex couples in committed relationships. The state Supreme Court deferred to the legislature a decision on whether to call these relationships "marriage" and lawmakers opted to call them "civil unions." Currently, Massachusetts is the only state that recognizes same-sex marriages. Vermont and Connecticut also allow civil unions.
In related news, New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine (NJ) has recommended Rev. Kevin E. Taylor to the New Jersey Civil Union Review Commission. In addition to being a veteran television producer and gay rights activist, the "Rev Kev" is pastor of Unity Fellowship Church in News Brunswick and author of the new novel, Jaded.
New Jersey gays make midnight dash for civil unions (Reuters)
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Wow. Go Rev Kev!!
Its a good day for Jersey, no doubt.
Posted by: taylor Siluwé | 20 February 2007 at 10:12