Gay Marriage reaches NJ
Mar. 8th, 2004 11:58 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
yesthattomIt is entirely fitting that the next milestone in this effort comes from the historic shore community of Asbury Park. Chosen as the center for New Jersey's first statewide annual Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgendered and Intersexed Pride Parade back in 1992, and continuing in that role this June 6th for NJ's 13th Annual Pride Event, this city has a rich history of support for its gay community. Home to a bustling gay commercial district and a burgeoning gay neighborhood, many speculate that Asbury Park's recent renaissance has been fueled by its gay community.
What we witness today is this city giving back to its own. In granting these licenses, Asbury Park is following the courageous actions taken in San Francisco, New Paltz, NY and other municipalities around the country. Moreover, it is continuing the relationship equality efforts begun more than two years ago when Lambda Legal filed a lawsuit on behalf of seven New Jersey families demanding marriage equality for all NJ citizens. That lawsuit is currently working its way through the state's court system. The eventual outcome of this lawsuit will hopefully extend the option of marriage to all New Jersey's gay and lesbian couples.
On behalf of the New Jersey Lesbian and Gay Coalition (NJLGC), I commend the city of Asbury Park, the brave couples who sought these licenses from the city, and all the people around the state working diligently to secure relationship equality for all.
Laura Pople
President, NJLGC
For the past thirty years, the New Jersey Lesbian and Gay Coalition, a non-profit organization, has been committed to: 1) Fighting discrimination based on sexual/affectional orientation or gender identification and expression; and 2) Enhancing the quality of lives of lesbian, gay, bisexual ,transgendered, and intersexed people in New Jersey through public advocacy, education, political action, and legal reform. The coalition includes among its member groups AIDS Benefit Committee of New Jersey; Alice Paul NOW South Jersey; ACLU; BiZone; GABLES of Cape May County; Gay Activist Alliance in Morris County; Gender Rights Advocacy Group of New Jersey; Human Rights Campaign, Greater New York Steering Committee; Hyacinth AIDS Foundation; Jersey City Lesbian and Gay Outreach; Jersey Pride, Inc.; Lambda Families of New Jersey; Log Cabin Republicans; The Names Project, Central Jersey Chapter; New Jersey Stonewall Democrats; PFLAG of Bergen County; Pride Center of New Jersey; and Trenton Gay and Lesbian Civic Association.
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no subject
Date: 2004-03-08 10:16 pm (UTC)Anyway, having gone hiking there recently, talk of "Park's recent renaissance" seems greatly exagerated. To me, it looked far worse even than it did 8 years ago.
no subject
Date: 2004-03-08 10:38 pm (UTC)> or one of them? Also, did Pride go there because of an already exisitng gay community, or did
> Pride attract new gay businesses?
Pride weekend is the biggest single day of economic activity for the town... i've been told but I've never verified it.
Pride went there because while trying to choose a town, AP started pursuing us. The original intent was to pick a different town each year but things went so well in AP that we've never left.
> Anyway, having gone hiking there recently, talk of "Park's recent renaissance"
> seems greatly exagerated. To me, it looked far worse even than it did 8 years ago.
Agreed.
yay!
Date: 2004-03-09 03:40 pm (UTC)Re: yay!
Date: 2004-03-09 04:14 pm (UTC)