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Same Sex Marriage Heating Up in New Jersey

The fight for same sex marriage is heating up in New Jersey. After Iowa, Vermont and now DC accepting out of state same sex marriages (thank you magda) the fight is turning to New Jersey and New York for that matter. Opponents, however realize this and are slamming $1.5 million dollars into the state to stop it. "The National Organization for Marriage" is leading the charge and its goal is to "activate those people who already agree with us."

The organization's television commercial, called "Gathering Storm," asserts same-sex marriage advocates "want to change the way I live" by forcing everyone to accept that same-sex marriage is acceptable. That means wedding photographers and marriage counselors could be labeled bigots and sued if they oppose working with same-sex couples, the group said.

The problem you see, is when I go to these websites and try and find out just what these "traditional marriage" advocates believe, it is a tough task. What exactly do they believe? That same sex marriage hurts regular marriage? That is an obvious claim, but why? That question is much more difficult to find. Basically, the argument is that traditional marriage is defined by a man and a woman, not by same sex couples and it has been for millenniums. That is it. Nothing else. It is pure and simple homophobia. Traditional marriage up until 1967 was also defined by people of the same race only until Loving v. Virginia changed that.

There is also something wrong with the traditional argument. It does not hold up to scrutiny. According to a book: "Marriage, a History: How Love Conquered Marriage" an exhaustive look at marriage across all cultures, marriage for love goes back about 200 years and that might be pushing it. Putting aside for a moment the gross disproportionality impact that "traditional marriage" has placed on women, Coontz says marriage was an economic and political institution, not to be decided by something as trivial as love. This is why marriage was left up to the community, neighbors and parents so they could choose the "right" partner for you. A union that would work for economic and political reasons as well as reproductive reasons. We see this today in many cultures who still practice this type of arrangement.

Not until the late eighteenth century (1780's) did individuals in Europe start marrying for personal affection and even these marriages were at the behest of the male, an institution that purely and profoundly placed women in a secondary role well into the 20th century and arguably still today. Coontz says that many men sought out women who came from wealthy families so as to acquire "standing" in society. This is where the notion of "marrying up" comes from. Our own beloved George Washington owned almost nothing until he married Martha.

The argument is a farce, a pure and simple farce. Yet, our laws based on this notion cloaked in homophobia reflect it. Yes, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Iowa, Vermont and now New Jersey, New York and Rhode Island close behind we are breaking the cycle of nonsense. It is slow, however and the draconian law of DOMA which denies couples federal benefits even if the state allows same sex marriage stands with no end in sight.

As long as we know we are living in a farce. It isn't the only one.

Vermont Passes Gay Marriage Legislatively

Vermont becomes the 4th state in the union to allow same sex marriage, passed in beautiful Montpelier, Vt maybe one of the most pleasant and beautiful capital cities in our nation. The legislature passed the measure, the Governor threatened a veto and then they overid the veto. Now, of course the 19th century wannabees are calling for a referendum. Stay tuned. But, for the first time a state has done so through the legislative process instead of the courts. Read more at the Burlington Free Press.

Gay Marriage Legal in New Jersey? Nope. Iowa.

The Iowa Supreme Court overturned the ban on gay marriage in Iowa in a unanimous ruling. Wow. Read the ruling. Gay marriage will be legal in three weeks. Those of us in New York, New Jersey and especially in California can hang our heads in shame. Human rights are coming whether we are ready for them or not.

stop. Stop. STOP the madness.

Watch it.

Cry.


"Fidelity": Don't Divorce... from Courage Campaign on Vimeo.

Take Action.

Prop 8 - The Musical

This is clever and entertaining and hits all the points one needs to see the hypocrisy of this entire issue. "Gay Marriages Will Save the Economy!"

See more Jack Black videos at Funny or Die

Connecticut Supreme Court Rules in Favor of Gay Marriage

Same-sex couples won the right to marry in Connecticut in a historic ruling by the Supreme Court today. Citing the equal protection clause of the state constitution, the justices ruled that civil unions were discriminatory and that the state's "understanding of marriage must yield to a more contemporary appreciation of the rights entitled to constitutional protection."

In Kerrigan v. Commissioner of Public Health the Majority in a narrow 4-3 decision said: "Interpreting our state constitutional provisions in accordance with firmly established equal protection principles leads inevitably to the conclusion that gay persons are entitled to marry the otherwise qualified same sex partner of their choice... To decide otherwise would require us to apply one set of constitutional principles to gay persons and another to all others."

The opposition is not finished, however; in less than a month in the November election voters in Connecticut will be asked if a Constitutional Convention should be convened. This was also done in Massachusetts if I remember correctly and when cooler heads prevailed it failed miserably. I think it is over for the "man and a woman" arguments in Connecticut.

It is looking like Fall, 2008 is a time for enormous change. Let the frenzy begin.

CA Overturns Gay Marriage Ban!

California is now the second state in the union to allow same sex marriage!

What a couple of days we are having. First NARAL endorses Obama, then Edwards does the same and now CA sees the light. Woohoo! It's a good week.

Although there is still an anti-gay marriage ballot initiatives slated for a vote in Cali. Consider donating to stop it.

Civil Unions in New Jersey Are Not Working

Thanks to Blue Jersey for this video and discussion. Most know in New Jersey that civil unions are indeed second class status to marriage equality. Also, most know that once the November election passes Governor Corzine wants a bill on his desk to sign for marriage equality. It will happen in New Jersey. Since New York just said it will accept other marriages from other states this will help the northeast continue its roll toward marriage equality altogether.

It is strange to advocate for this - as someone who does not really want to be married, but it is clearly a human rights issue, one that is preposterously overdue in the Garden State.

Gore Endorses Gay Marriage

See the story here.

When Will New Jersey Politicians Display this Kind of Courage

This is a rare speech (by a Republican) and it is worth every second.

Here’s why you must watch: The speech contains that rarest of displays for an American politician, the thing we’ve all been convinced through years and decades simply no longer exists anywhere in the political biosphere, but especially among the famously heartless members of the famously homophobic GOP — that is, astonishing honesty, humility, openness, heartfelt emotion in matters of love and human connection, sans rhetoric or spin or typical political bulls–t. The speech is, simply put, a deeply touching thing to watch.

Brownback Gets Booed Over Gay Marriage

"Live Free or Die in New Hampshire"

See a poll by CNN that says 57% of Americans say gay marriages should have the same right as "traditional marriages."

Same Sex Marriage in Iowa

From the DesMoines Register:

A Polk County judge on Thursday struck down Iowa's law banning gay marriage.The ruling by Judge Robert Hanson concluded that the state's prohibition on same-sex marriage is unconstitutional and he ordered the Polk County recorder to issue marriage licenses to six gay couples.

Camilla Taylor, an attorney with Lambda Legal, a New York-based gay rights organization, said the ruling requires "full equality for all Iowans including gay and lesbian Iowans and their families."

Gay couples from anywhere in Iowa could apply for a marriage license from Polk County. The process takes three days, however. Polk County is expected to appeal the ruling to the Iowa S upreme Court. County Attorney John Sarcone said the county would immediately seek a stay from Hanson, which if granted would prevent anyone from seeking a marriage license until an appeal could be heard.

In his ruling, Hanson said the state law allowing marriage only between a man and a woman violates the constitutional rights of due process and equal protection."Couples, such as plaintiffs, who are otherwise qualified to marry one another may not be denied licenses to marry or certificates of marriage or in any other way prevented from entering into a civil marriage... by reason of the fact that both person comprising such a couple are of the same sex," he said.

The judge said the state law banning same-sex marriage must be nullified, severed and stricken from the books and the marriage laws "must be read and applied in a gender neutral manner so as to permit same-sex couples to enter into a civil marriage..."

So, how will this affect the Iowa caucuses? Will any of them take a stand on this issue? Believe me this will become a huge issue in Iowa. Republicans will hammer how being gay proves that the end of the world is near. The big three democrats will say something like "I believe in rights for all people." Yes, but Senator where do you stand? "I belive in rights for all people."

Ok, is there any wonder you cannot end this war?

Gay Marriage in New Jersey

Watch this short video. Is this really subversive? New Jersey will have gay marriage soon.

Senator Lesniak from New Jersey recently said: There's one thing of which I'm certain: we will have gay marriage legalized in New Jersey, we will make many gay couples very happy, and we will make some of them miserable. But that will be their choice, not government's.

Senator Lesniak is not all that progressive in my opinion, but in New Jersey people are realizing that civil unions are not enough and problems still exist. A movement is rising for a state to pass legislation for gay marriage rather than a court as in Massachusetts. This is very good news for those who want to be married.