Advertisement

New Jersey Appeals Court rules against marriage equality

By BTL Staff

TRENTON – A New Jersey appeals court issued a 2-1 ruling on June 14 in favor of that state's law against equal marriage rights for same-sex couples. The case will now move to the New Jersey Supreme Court for a final ruling.
"We are disappointed but not discouraged. We've always known that this case is headed for the New Jersey Supreme Court, and now we're that much closer to the final word," said David Buckel, director of Lambda Legal's Marriage Project and the lead attorney for the plaintiffs.
One appeals court justice understood the issue. Judge Donald G. Collester, Jr. said, in his 31 page dissent, "By prohibiting them from a real right to marry, plaintiffs as well as their children suffer the real consequences of being 'different.' While the Domestic Partnership Act gives, at some cost, many, but not all, of the benefits and protections automatically granted to married persons, we have learned after much pain that 'separate but equal' does not substitute for equal rights."
According to a Jan. 13, 2004 FindLaw's report on New Jersey's Domestic Partnership Act, the Act falls short of equal treatment of committed same-sex partners in several ways, including the fact that, "Domestic partners also do not automatically acquire rights or obligations with respect to any children, which is different from the treatment of married couples."
Lambda Legal filed the lawsuit against the State of New Jersey in June 2002 on behalf of seven lesbian and gay couples seeking equal marriage rights. The couples' relationships have lasted from 11-30 years, and several are raising children together.
For more information visit Lambda Legal at http://www.lambdalegal.org. For the FindLaw's analysis of New Jersey's Domestic Partnership Act visit http://writ.news.findlaw.com/grossman/20040113.html.

Advertisement
Topics: News
Advertisement

From the Pride Source Marketplace

Go to the Marketplace
Directory default
Brookeside Veterinary Hospital is located on 51 acres of land on Warren Rd. off of Nixon Rd., North…
Learn More
Directory default
Proud to serve the LGBT community since 1957! Gay owned and operated family business.…
Learn More
Advertisement