NJ Couples Line Up for DP Registration

July 10, 2004

Same-sex couples across the state are excited about registering their relationships with municipal officials on the first day allowed under New Jersey's new domestic partnership law.

Among those headed to a statewide celebration Saturday in Maplewood — with paperwork in tow — are Joan Hervey, 49, and Linda Geczi, 45, who have lived together for two years.

Participating in something that historic on the first day is huge, said Hervey. For Linda and I, it's a very personal thing. For New Jersey and for gay people in New Jersey, it's a big step, a big milestone toward full relationship equality.

The domestic partnership law, passed in January, grants some legal rights to registered couples, including the ability to make medical decisions for each other.

It allows partners to have some joint rights in filing state taxes, to be exempt from state inheritance taxes in the case of a partner's death and to extend the benefits given to state employees to cover domestic partners.

The law also covers unmarried heterosexual couples ages 62 and older. It does not legalize gay marriage and offers far fewer rights than those given to heterosexual married couples.

Couples must bring government-issued identification and show proof of shared financial assets to a municipal registrar's office. There is no waiting period.

While we recognize this is not a marriage and does not come near to providing the protections of marriage, it's a step, said the Rev. Bob Kriesat, who planned to be at the Maplewood celebration with Edward Mather, his partner of 35 years.

Maplewood was one of several municipalities with large gay populations that planned to open offices this weekend; most other towns didn't plan to start registering couples until Monday.

The South Orange clerk's office was opening at 12:01 a.m. Saturday to register couples.

We know it's an important event and something crucial in the history of the country and we wanted to add our blessings to it, said South Orange Mayor William Calabrese.

New Jersey is the fifth state in the nation to officially recognize same-sex coupling. In April, Maine's governor signed a bill creating domestic partnerships there.

Domestic partner benefits have been granted in California and Hawaii. Vermont has approved civil unions and Massachusetts recently legalized same-sex marriage.

Catholic and conservative groups have raised objections to the New Jersey law, but so far no lawsuits have been filed to block it, said Patrick DeAlmeida, a deputy state Attorney General.