yesthattom: (Default)
[personal profile] yesthattom
At 3pm today the NJ Supreme Court will announce their decision on whether or not same-sex marriage will be legally recognized in New Jersey. It’s something I’ve been working on (on and off) for 15 years.

They might decide that the constitution requires it (i.e. in brief: the constitution says that the Law Against Discrimination must be upheld in all areas; the LAD was modified to include glbt in 1991; therefore glbt people can’t be discriminated against in marriage). If this happens, we’ll need to codify this decision in the legislature (i.e. pass a law legalizing it so that there is no confusion or need for further interpretation by the courts).

They might decide that the constitution doesn’t require it. If this happens there will be a push to codify this decision in the legislature (i.e. pass a law clearly stating that it is illegal, which is a no-op since that was the status quo), plus another push to legalize same-sex marriage since all other avenues have been exhausted.

They might “do a Vermont” and decide that same-sex relationships have to be recognized but that it doesn’t have to be called “marriage” and the legislature has x months to pass a law creating something that is seperate but equal.

Either way, this is going to be a rocky next couple of months!

I’ll be updating The New Jersey Lesbian and Gay Coalition’s web site right at 3pm. As luck would have it, I’m teaching a class at 4-5pm today so no updates during that time.

Date: 2006-10-25 11:58 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] rainbear.livejournal.com
Here's hoping! *crossing appendages*

Date: 2006-10-25 01:15 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] laperleprofonde.livejournal.com
thanks for the info! I didn't realize this was happening today!

Date: 2006-10-25 01:32 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] la-directora.livejournal.com
*fingers crossed*

I can't wait until we're all nostalgaic about this particular civil rights issue, the way we are now about Rosa Parks.

Date: 2006-10-25 02:24 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] lilbjorn.livejournal.com
You'd better be calling it same-sex marriage by the time you get to Worcester this weekend. :-)

Here's hoping you get to talk about it with a big ol' grin on your face.

Date: 2006-10-25 03:05 pm (UTC)
ckd: small blue foam shark (Default)
From: [personal profile] ckd
Best of luck!

Status update report: Cambridge City Hall still not struck by lightning. 891 days and counting.

Date: 2006-10-25 03:55 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] cyan-blue.livejournal.com
Good luck, NJ!

Date: 2006-10-25 07:21 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] thefoxes.livejournal.com
If I'm reading it right, it looks like a Vermont-style "it's up to the legislature to provide something, whether it be "civil unions" or "marriage" to same-sex couples.

Date: 2006-10-25 07:24 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] rfj.livejournal.com
Thanx!

*kiss and hug*


that's not too bad then. not the best, but not the worst.

Date: 2006-10-25 07:26 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] thefoxes.livejournal.com
::hugs:: exactly =)

Date: 2006-10-25 07:41 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] indifferenthues.livejournal.com
thanks for explaining . . . I have CNN on and as they first tried to report the decision at 3 PM they were saying, in puzzled tones, something to the effect of "well it's a win for same sex couples . . . we think".

Date: 2006-10-25 07:25 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] thefoxes.livejournal.com
In other words, it's a win for same-sex couples, but the ramifications are not as clear as if the court would have specifically recognized the right to "marriage"

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