newjerseynewsroom.com

Over 200 sign open letter seeking gender neutral language in civil marriage laws

More than 200 Democratic leaders from across New Jersey — a core group of campaign staff, government officials, fundraisers and elected leaders — have signed an open letter calling on the New Jersey's Democratic lawmakers to post for an up-or-down vote on Senate Bill 1967 and Assembly Bill 2978. The legislation will provide all New Jerseyans the legal right to marry.

"New Jersey has a proud history of supporting civil rights. It was this legacy that encouraged many of us to become involved in politics. We believe that allowing committed gay and lesbian couples to marry is, at its core, about treating our family members, friends, co-workers, and neighbors with dignity and respect," the letter reads.

"We appreciate that this is a difficult issue for some state legislators. But marriage equality is an idea whose time has come. We are confident that the voters will stand by those elected officials who do the right thing."

The letter represents a grass roots effort within the party amid a sense of frustration that Democratic lawmakers are being tempted to back away from a vote on the bills, even as outgoing Democratic Governor Jon Corzine said he would sign into law marriage equality legislation as soon as lawmakers sent the bill to his desk.

The letter was circulated and signed by more than 200 Democratic party stalwarts, a broad representation that includes young campaign staff, major party fundraisers, top consultants and operatives, and both local and federal elected officials. Among those who signed are Democratic members of Congress Frank Pallone, Steve Rothman and Rush Holt and Newark Mayor Cory Booker.

"A lot of us are feeling let down, especially younger Democrats," said Ronald C. Rice, a member of the Newark City Council. "We sense there is an enthusiasm gap in Democratic support for this legislation, and we are asking Democrats to live up to the mandate set for them by their own party."

"We are saying to lawmakers that you have relied on many of us to get the vote out for you in election after election. Now we are relying on you to vote on an issue that goes to the heart of why so many of us became involved in Democratic politics in the first place," said Julie Roginsky, a Democratic consultant.

Lawmakers have about six more weeks until the end of the current legislative session, which leaves more than enough time to act on the legislation. The bills would provide gender neutral language in civil marriage laws. It includes language affirming that nothing in the law requires religions to sanctify marriages that contradict the beliefs or teachings of the faith. If the bills are not enacted, they must be re-introduced in the new legislative session that begins Jan. 19, 2010, when Republican Governor-elect Chris Christie is sworn into office. Christie said flatly during the recent campaign that he would veto marriage equality legislation.

"People have worked hard to raise money to support Democratic lawmakers precisely because they are Democrats and support the party's progressive social policies," said Victor Herlinsky, a prominent North Jersey lawyer and political organizer. "We understand that not every member agrees on this issue, but it's time for Democrats to be democratic and vote up or down on marriage equality. People have a right to know where their representatives stand on this issue."

After a ruling by the state Supreme Court three years ago, lawmakers in New Jersey enacted legislation creating civil unions, a separate legal standing for same-sex couples that was meant to provide the same legal rights as marriage. A state commission that studied the law for a year found that the term and the law created confusion and often did not adequately protect the rights of same-sex couples under the law.

"The civil union is an experiment that has failed. It attempted to offer gay and lesbian couples the legal rights of marriage without actually calling it marriage," said Paul Josephson, a Princeton lawyer at Hill Wallack LLP who ran the State's Division of Law in 2003 and 2004 and has represented many Democratic candidates. "Separate but equal is not equal. As the Civil Union Review Commission found, gay and lesbian couples still face serious hurdles in obtaining equal health benefits and medical attention simply because they are not technically 'married' under New Jersey law. In the real world, civil union provides an incomplete bundle of rights. "

"There is no room in New Jersey for discrimination under any name. We haven't fought these battles only to do the safe thing. We didn't become Democrats to tolerate an injustice. We became Democrats to fight injustice. Let's right this once and for all," Josephson said.

THE SIGNED OPEN LETTER

A copy of the letter, including an alphabetical list of those who signed, follows.

The letter is also be posted at www.ipetitions.com/petition/njmarriage for anyone interested in adding his or her signature.

AN OPEN LETTER CALLING ON DEMOCRATIC LEGISLATORS

TO POST MARRIAGE EQUALITY LEGISLATION FOR A VOTE

We believe that equality and fairness are fundamental principles of New Jersey's Democratic Party, and that is why we call on the state legislature to vote immediately on, and pass, the marriage equality bill.

New Jersey has a proud history of supporting civil rights. It was this legacy that encouraged many of us to become involved in politics. We believe that allowing committed gay and lesbian couples to marry is, at its core, about treating our family members, friends, coworkers, and neighbors with dignity and respect.

We appreciate that this is a difficult issue for some state legislators. But marriage equality is an idea whose time has come. We are confident that the voters will stand by those elected officials who do the right thing.

When our children and grandchildren look back on this moment, we want to be able to tell them that we, too, did the right thing.

As Martin Luther King poignantly reminded us, "the arc of the moral universe is long but it bends toward justice." That is why we're proud to lend our names and our voices to this important cause. We do so in our capacity as private citizens and Democratic voters, and not on behalf of any particular office or organization.

Signed,

Philip Alagia

Stephanie Albanese

Albert Alvarez

Hiver Ambrose

Michael Angelini

Rob Angelo

Byron Arnao

Paul Aronsohn

Frank Askin