NJ Senate Committee Approves Civil Unions

December 12, 2006

by Kate Coscarelli
Star-Ledger

State lawmakers could vote later this week on a measure to allow gay and lesbian couples to form civil unions with the rights and responsibilities of marriage.

The bill (S-2407) cleared a second hurdle yesterday when the Senate Judiciary Committee advanced it with a bipartisan vote. An Assembly committee approved a nearly identical measure last week. Both houses are scheduled for voting sessions on Thursday and the bill is likely to come up. Gov. Jon Corzine has indicated he would sign the law.

This is a step in the process. It's a step in the right direction, said committee vice chairman Sen. John Girgenti (D-Passiac).

The vote at the standing-room-only meeting came after two hours of testimony. Some of those attending wore buttons expressing their positions, such as marriage equality or one man one woman. About 50 people asked to address the senators, but only a handful testified before the vote.

The legislation is in response to the state Supreme Court's recent decision in the case of seven same-sex couples who sued to marry. The court ruled the state constitution entitles those couples to all the benefits and duties of marriage but left it to lawmakers to decide how they are provided.

At the hearing's outset, Sen. Loretta Weinberg (D-Bergen), sponsor of the bill, said the bill reflects the reality of the political and social mood in New Jersey and told the committee it is important to preserve rights for same-sex couples.

Once the rights are in place, we can work on the words.

Gay rights activists yesterday testified the legislation does not go far enough because marriage is the only word the world understands.

Robert Kriestat, a Lutheran pastor from Convent Station, said he'd like to marry his partner of 37 years. He was one of a group of clergy who said not allowing everyone to marry was unjust. They brought more than 6,000 postcards from like-minded residents.

I am really kind of tired of hearing that I should be patient and wait longer for something that everyone else already enjoys, Kriestat said.

On the other side, Princeton University professor Robert George supported conservatives' equal benefits idea that would give rights to all pairs of people unable to marry, such as elderly siblings. He said that takes the vexing issue of sex out of the equation.

John Tomicki, executive director of the League of American Families, said legislators are moving too fast on an issue that deserved more debate.

Sen. Gerald Cardinale (R-Bergen) advocated another approach — putting the idea to voters, which got applause from the audience.

Overall, there was little satisfaction with the measure, even though it was approved.

Sen. Robert Martin (R-Morris) said, I am disappointed the bill doesn't identify what the bill really wants to do, which is call it same-sex marriage.

In all, eight members voted to approve the bill. Sen. Joseph Kyrillos (R-Monmouth) voted against it. Sen. Nicholas Scutari (D-Union) abstained. Cardinale said he did not vote because he was cut off.

At day's end, Steven Goldstein, chair of Garden State Equality, said the legislation —which does not say marriage is only between a man and a woman — is acceptable for now. A civil unions bill is going to pass … that gives us tremendous hope for marriage equality.

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