This post, about the basis for the amicus brief ACLU-NJ wrote on behalf of marriage equality in New Jersey, was written by Ed Barocas, Legal Director of the American Civil Liberties Union-NJ. Separate is never equal. Over the weekend, ACLU of New Jersey received the Gibbons Prize for Law and Social Justice from Garden State Equality. - promoted by Rosi Efthim
Rights that exist merely in theory or on paper are meaningless. They only mean something to people's lives if they exist in reality. For rights to mean something, they must be on paper and in practice for perpetuity.
On February 19, 2007, New Jersey's Civil Unions Law took effect. While same-sex couples and their families throughout the state were, on paper, afforded some of the rights and responsibilities previously denied them, the day also marked a sad and unfulfilling moment in the history of our state. It has gone down as the day New Jersey officially wrote back into law the notion of "separate but equal."
The past three years have served as a reminder - for some unnecessary - that separate is never equal. And the same couples that initially brought the battle for equality to the courts in 2004 have once again petitioned the New Jersey Supreme Court for their constitutional right to equality.
During the Civil Unions Commission hearings that the Legislature mandated to review the effects of the law, as well as the Senate Judiciary Committee hearings during the December 2009 run-up to the vote on marriage equality, family after family testified about the discrimination they experienced because the title given to them, "civil unions," was an inferior institution that excluded them from well-understood title of marriage.
The titles we give to our rights matter. They affect whether those rights will be respected throughout our state at hospitals, in schools, in everyday business transactions, and in practically every endeavor susceptible to human error. Many New Jerseyans have no idea what civil unions are, much less a nuanced understanding of the rights they carry.
Simply put, the Civil Unions Law has failed to fulfill the promise of equality. And children of civil union couples suffer most of all.
The most compelling stories during the Senate hearings on marriage equality in December came from school children. One student had been mercilessly bullied at school, while other children told the committee how excluded they felt when their classmates failed understand their parents' (non)marital status. When businesses and hospital personnel routinely don't understand civil unions, how can we expect our children to?
Justice Louis Brandeis said, "Our government is the potent, the omnipresent teacher. For good or for ill, it teaches the whole people by its example."
What kind of statement does the government make when it segregates one group from all of the others? That it's acceptable to have two classes of people with two sets of rights. When the state itself segregates people, it grants the rest of society permission to do the same. Through its example, the Civil Unions Law excuses bigotry and emboldens bullies.
Last month, the ACLU-NJ submitted a friend-of-the-court brief to the New Jersey Supreme Court on behalf of ourselves and seven other leading rights organizations. It explained that, even when courts in the past initially permitted "separate but equal" institutions or systems to exist, those courts struck down, the segregated systems once evidence established that they continued to lead to different treatment. Even ardent opponents of marriage equality have conceded that denying same-sex couples the title of marriage has perpetuated these disparities.
If a system so separate were established on the basis of race, religion, ethnicity or gender, we would decry it, call it bigotry, see it as an affront to all New Jerseyans, and call it abhorrent and wrong. When it is done on the basis of sexual orientation, it is no less of an affront to all New Jerseyans, and no less abhorrent and wrong.
Hopefully, the New Jersey Supreme Court will be on the correct side of history - the side that long ago established that segregation of rights and people can never result in full equality.
"Moving testimony in Senate hearings suggests that New Jersey's civil union law is not always understood or followed," Kean said in an email statement. "We need to educate the public about the law, and enhance it if necessary so that no civil union partner is turned away from the hospital bed of a loved one."
The senators did not say how they would enforce the current civil union law so that it "provides all rights and benefits that legislators intended," except to say there should be "strong penalties" for violating it.
Yeah. But here's the thing: You can't "fix" something inherently unequal and patch it up so that it's equal. Not. Gonna. Work. But there's something else misguided about what these 5 Repuplicans are saying: Where does the money come from for those "fixes"? And why should strapped-for-cash New Jersey give up the economic benefits independent university research says we stand to gain by enacting marriage equality?
Let's say you play along with their theory and buy into the premise that you can make civil unions equal to marriage, and give civil unioned same-sex couples full access to all the rights and benefits of marriage, as the NJ Supreme Court decision requires.
What would it cost to "fix" the civil union law so couples' rights are protected? What would it cost to enforce those fixes you make? How much to educate people on those fixes and changes? Then, when you find out none of those "fixes" work, what's the cost to go through the process all over again to finally grant same sex couples what they truly deserve, the right to marry their committed partner.
Not only could we generate nearly $248 million yearly in economic activity by enacting Marriage Equality, but we could save the state all those costs from attempting to fixing the unfix-able. Marriage makes sense from a moral, civil rights and financial perspective. Take any other course and you put further strain on an already stretched state.
"In the past, I opposed gay marriage while supporting the idea of civil unions," Governor Baldacci said. "I have come to believe that this is a question of fairness and of equal protection under the law, and that a civil union is not equal to civil marriage."
Some worry about religious freedom The governor also addressed that concern:
"This new law does not force any religion to recognize a marriage that falls outside of its beliefs. It does not require the church to perform any ceremony with which it disagrees. Instead, it reaffirms the separation of Church and State," Governor Baldacci said.
"It guarantees that Maine citizens will be treated equally under Maine?s civil marriage laws, and that is the responsibility of government."
I continue to believe that this is an urgent matter for progressives to address this year. I will work for Jon Corzine to be re-elected, but one simply cannot assume a man who is polling under 40% is going to win. A loss would mean that there is little chance that we would have a governor willing to sign marriage equality into law until 2014 and probably 2018.
Update: Find out below which three senators Garden State Equality wants you to call today.
Two years ago today, New Jersey enacted a civil unions law by a wide margin. Compelled by the New Jersey Supreme Court to deliver full equality to same-sex families, the Legislature copped out and chose to demean thousands of New Jersey families (denying over a third of them equal rights like health benefits, hospital visitation, financial security, and more), because they were politically afraid to support marriage equality. A few legislators bravely spoke out in favor of true equality, realizing you cannot have Equality and Diet Equality, you can only have true equality or a sham.
Were some legislators justified in the political fears that led them to support civil unions over true equality? No.
A new poll, commissioned by Gannett (the news org that operates the APP, the Home News Tribune, the Courier Post, and other papers) shows that New Jersey voters support marriage equality 50%-40%.
Every time, there's been an excuse from legislators too politically afraid to stand up for what's right. But that's all they are: excuses. There are no excuses anymore. Gannett has no axe to grind here, no political agenda. And it is straight-up reporting that the voters of New Jersey respond favorably to marriage equality, based on credible and unbiased polling. If the poll is at all biased (which we doubt, as Monmouth University is a renowned, fair NJ pollster), it likely skews to the right. The numbers remain. A strong majority of New Jerseyans support marriage equality.
So, we're paging Steve Sweeney, Dick Codey, Diane Allen, and other members of the New Jersey State Senate who have appeared lukewarm or quiet on the issue of marriage equality. Senators, you have no more room for excuses. Fundamentally, you either support full equality or you don't; you must either stand up for what's right or cave in to baseless political fear and timidity. New Jerseys same-sex families have suffered because of civil unions; that's not in doubt. You can either recognize that suffering and fix it by enacting marriage equality this year, or you can turn a blind eye.
The truth is, there are no half-assed attempts at equality. It's time for members of the New Jersey Senate to stand up and be counted, and it's time for members of the Blue Jersey community to turn up the heat and call these wavering senators today.
Promoted: From Jay's vision, to reality. (Let's hope.) -JG
Old b-roll footage can be intriguing to watch, including this clip with Senator Barbara Buono from last summer's paid family leave bill signing. She praises the leadership skills of Sen. Steve Sweeney -- who's since become Senate majority leader. It kinda got me thinking about what's possible for GLBT rights in New Jersey.
Re-promoted for a Merry Christmas. If you're reading today, maybe you have 10 minutes to reflect on the year in NJ politics. Enjoy and don't forget to take the poll! -JG
What better way to celebrate a memorable year than with a top 10 list? As a blogger, activist and campaign worker, this was my perspective as seen (entirely) thorugh the lens of my wecam or iPhone.
Hopefully something for everyone. Take the poll and share what would make your top ten list!
In anticipation of the upcoming marriage equality debate, I'm trying to get a feel for how friendly to equality are the legislators in my family's district. They live in District 25, which is represented by 3 republicans:
I can't find any recent statements online by any of them on marriage equality, but the data from a few years ago indicate that all three are die-hard haters. HOWEVER! I know from experience working on marriage in MA that legislators do sometimes change their tune. So, does anyone out there have anything more hopeful to add about these three legislators? Is the NJ legislature thick enough with democrats that the GOP party liners can be ignored?
Blue Jersey Radio recorded LIVE from the Garden State Equality Town Hall here. South Jersey Town Hall tomorrow. DFA-NJ Opening Night of MilkFriday night.
I am now going to out myself. Yes, as a person who came very late to support marriage equality.
This is not news for anybody who knows me. And I've said the same, uncomfortably and shuffling my feet, in front of a microphone at Town Halls with Garden State Equality, which has had the good sense to welcome straight people like me into this movement for change.
But here's the thing. When you invite the straights in, you never know what you're going to get. And one day, they got me. If you haven't been to one, GSE Town Hall meetings are a combination old-fashioned tent meeting, precision-drilled presentation (founder Steven Goldstein used to produce Oprah), occasional display of gay fabulousness, and lots of children running around - always welcomed - their grownups with the look of full-out determination.
Frequently, there are balloons. But GSE Town Halls are very serious business. You're welcomed if you are still thinking about the question of whether New Jersey should change its laws to allow same-sex marriage. But the reasons you'll hear are so compelling, that you'll probably leave convinced. And maybe even, recruited.
I was recruited. Gay marriage, which is how most straight people think of what gay people call marriage equality didn't hit me right at the beginning of this movement. Oh, I was all for equality, who isn't? So, I was solid behind domestic partnership, or civil unions, or anything else that brought parity to gay couples in love.
But marriage? Marriage to me, a few years ago, was something else entirely, by definition the union of woman to man. Clearly understood, everybody knew what it was. And gay people were doing something .... else.
I don't like admitting my wrongness. I'm a progressive activist, and I'm often the person in the front of a room helping organize things. But I can be slow. And I had to listen to some people to figure it out. Teenagers whose schoolmates didn't recognize their civil unioned families as real, workers whose employers wouldn't extend the rights afforded under civil unions, loving couples who felt like their families were accorded second-class status. And, maybe worst of all, is the uncertainty civil unioned couples felt in a hospital, in a health care crisis.
"As I have said many times before, same-sex marriage in New Jersey is only a matter of 'when,' not 'if.'
"The Commission's report should spark a renewed sense of purpose and urgency to overcoming one of society's last remaining barriers to full equality for all residents."
Senate President Codey's statement is positive but lacks the urgency:
"As I have said before, the history of civil rights progress - whether it's the rights of women, minorities or same-sex couples - is one that is typically achieved in incremental steps. I believe that society's view of this issue is coming around in favor of same-sex marriage and this report, underscoring the many inequalities that still exist, will further advance that belief."
Assemblyman John F. McKeon (D-Essex) gets right to the point, calling specifically for New Jersey to become the first state to legislatively legalize same-sex marriage:
"While the civil union measure was an important step in advancing individual liberty, today's report underscores how a vast number of same-sex couples believe it renders them 'separate but not equal.' It's time for New Jersey to complete the journey toward equality by providing all committed couples the same basic right to marry."
McKeon is a prime sponsor of the marriage bill (A-2978) introduced earlier this year that would permit same-sex couples full marriage rights.
Promoted from the Diaries by Jason Springer: An Interesting take from Juan. Cross-posted from PolitickerNJ.com
It's actually come to this: A panel convened by the legislature of the State of New Jersey has concluded that discrimination is not good. Maybe someday we can look back and laugh, but for now, it's a sad and necessary step toward progress.
The 13-member Civil Union Review Commission tasked with "evaluating the implementation, operation and effectiveness" of the civil union law passed nearly two years ago released its final report today unanimously recommending that "The Legislature and Governor amend the law to allow same-sex couples to marry" and that it be "enacted expeditiously because any delay in marriage equality will harm all the people of New Jersey."
The examples of injustice in the 80-page report are damning, but they shouldn't surprise those who remember our dark, segregated past. For nearly a century, blacks were entitled to the same access to public services such as water fountains and schools, but under "separate but equal" facilities that were ruled constitutional by the Supreme Court in Plessy v. Ferguson (1896). The colored fountain has the same water as the white one, was the argument, so what's the problem?
In her dissenting opinion in New Jersey's Supreme Court case brought by gay couples challenging for the right to marry, then-Chief Justice Deborah T. Poritz wrote: "What we name things matters, language matters...Labels set people apart surely as physical separation on a bus or in school facilities...By excluding same-sex couples from civil marriage, the State declares that it is legitimate to differentiate between their commitments and the commitments of heterosexual couples. Ultimately the message is that what same-sex couples have is not as important or as significant as 'real' marriage, that such lesser relationships cannot have the name of marriage."
Likewise, the report describes civil union couples as having "second-class status," and one written statement to the commission referred to civil unions as "the back of the legal relationship bus." So will the report change any minds? If it does, probably only at the margins. Anyone who needs a written report to understand fundamental American values like justice and equality probably won't be swayed anyway.
And then there are politicians, whose actions are often only loosely correlated with logic or even their own set of values.
In the short term, this report might provide enough cover to get a few more sponsors on the "Civil Marriage and Religious Protection Act," which calls for full marriage equality. It might also serve as supporting evidence in a hypothetical court case challenging the current law; say, if a married couple from Massachusetts moved to New Jersey and found that their marriage was magically transformed into a civil union. It could also push those who are teetering on the edge of the issue, like Jon Corzine, who supported marriage equality while running for governor in 2005, later said he only supported civil unions, and most recently said he has "significant concerns" about civil unions actually providing equal rights.
Regardless, the legislation is unlikely to be considered at least until the next lame duck session, and conventional wisdom among head-counters is that there are enough votes to pass the bill in the Assembly, but not yet in the Senate.
The Star Ledger has obtained a copy of a report to be issued Wednesday by the New Jersey Civil Union Review Commission, calling on the Legislature and the Governor to enact marriage equality without further delay. According to the report, the Commission:
gathered "overwhelming evidence" the civil union law not only fails to provide the same protections as marriage, it also has created economic, medical and emotional hardships for gay couples.
The commission concluded that denying same-sex couples the right to marry is as unjust as government imposing racial segregation laws against African-Americans.
The bi-partisan commission, which includes clergy, government officials, LGBT leaders and others, was charged with evaluating how effective the civil union law has been in providing equality to same-sex couples. The report goes to Governor Corzine and the Legislature, and will recommend that New Jersey act sooner rather than later to end the inequality.
The timing couldn't be better, heading into Garden State Equality's FED UP WITH INEQUALITY Town Meetings tomorrow (in South Orange) and Thursday (in Collingswood), which kick off a huge push to make progressive New Jersey the first state in the nation to enact marriage equality legislatively.
Blue Jersey Radio will be LIVE from the South Orange event tomorrow night. If you're there, stop by, say hi, and tell us what you think about this latest development.
[Great news from the Nutmeg state! -- promoted by huntsu]
Breaking news and huge momentum for the campaign for marriage equality in New Jersey: the Connecticut Supreme Court, in the case of Kerrigan v Commissioner of Public Health, has ruled 4-3 in favor of marriage equality.
Any way you slice it, this is huge momentum for New Jersey's marriage equality movement. Here's GSE's statement on the decision, from Steven Goldstein:
"Today's decision in Connecticut has particular relevance to us in New Jersey. Connecticut has had a civil union statute exactly like New Jersey's. Today, the Connecticut Supreme Court said civil unions do not and cannot provide the equality of real marriage -- that civil unions don't work in the real world and that they don't provide the dignity and respect of marriage either. These are exactly the points we've been making in New Jersey. Today, Connecticut said, civil unions, with all their myriad of problems, are not enough.
"This decision can't help but have enormous persuasive impact on New Jersey, not only because both states have had civil union statutes, but because both states are neighbors in the tri-state region.
"Garden State Equality salutes all the organizations involved in bring marriage equality to Connecticut, including Gay and Lesbian Advocates and Defenders (GLAD), the legal organization serving New England's LGBT communities; and our sister marriage equality organization in Connecticut, Love Makes a Family.
"All of us at Garden State Equality extend to GLAD and Love Makes a Family, and all the other organizations involved, our love and deepest appreciation. They are among the all-time heroes for LGBT America."
The parallels to New Jersey are undeniable. Connecticut, like New Jersey, has a civil union law. But, the Connecticut Supreme Court found that civil unions fail miserably to guarantee the equal rights of marriage--rights like health benefits, financial security, as well as the basic dignity and psychological assurance for children and families.
This decision confirms what we in New Jersey have already found: civil unions don't work. They can't work. They can't be fixed. Marriage equality is the only way to guarantee equality. Some will certainly try to spin this, but the fact remains--this is a huge boost of momentum to movement for marriage equality in New Jersey!!
UPDATE: From the decision:
Like these once prevalent views, our conventional understanding of marriage must yield to a more contemporary appreciation of the rights entitled to constitutional protection. 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 guarantee of equal protection under the law, and our obligation to uphold that command, forbids us from doing so. In accordance with these state constitutional requirements, same sex couples cannot be denied the freedom to marry.
UPDATE 2: Check out this video of the plaintiff's reaction to the verdict. If this doesn't warm your heart, I don't know what will.
The event was The Fourth Annual Images In Advertising Awards, presented by the Commercial Closet Association. And, Think Equal was one of two commercials in GSE's television campaign for marriage equality which was selected for the "Commercial Closet Award" - honoring the year's best LGBT television advertising campaign by a not-for-profit organization.
Along with Garden State Equality, the other organizations nominated in the not-for-profit category were GLAAD (United States), Gay Police Association (England), Outlive (Canada) and Adoption San Francisco (United States). So, this was some pretty still national and international competition. Congratulations to GSE for once again leading the charge for equality in New Jersey.
Indeed, kudos are deserved all around - well, except for the legislature, which still hasn't acted to bring equality to the Garden State, over a year later. GSE Chair Steven Goldstein highlights this sad state of affairs in a statement issued today:
the failure of the civil union law since the production of the commercial would require a more pessimistic script today about the law's ability to provide the rights and benefits of marriage. The civil union woman in this commercial would not be able to say "me too" as to receiving insurance and pension benefits today.
Awards are nice, and something to be very proud of. But, it's time for our legislature to make us even more proud, and move us forward, not backward, on the issue of marriage in New Jersey.
(Too good to pass up - TH - promoted by Thurman Hart)
At the WABC News Debate of the Democratic Senate candidates, televised this morning, Morristown Mayor Donald Cresitello took the last question, on the marriage equality issue:
Paraphrasing:
Yes, I had to decide whether as mayor of Morristown I would perform civil unions for gays, lesbians and for other kinds of sexual specialties.
In other news, Happy Sexual Specialties Day 2008 Pride Day, everybody, kicking off in just a few minutes in Asbury Park!
I had another great time last night in Somerville, after having a blast last week in Toms River - both times with Garden State Equality and DFA friends together in the room. One more week to go - Tuesday, May 20th throughout North Jersey. - JG
Last Tuesday, Garden State Equality launched its Neighborhood Action Summits to every corner of South Jersey to "turn up the heat for marriage equality."
Here's what on-site action to help bring marriage equality to New Jersey looks like:
Seem like something you could do? Then, join the next round of summits, as the push for marriage equality heads to 12 more locations in Central Jersey tonight at 7:00 p.m.There's one near you - promise.
The Philadelphia Inquirer editorial board has usually been on the leading edge of most issues. So it's sad to see that when it comes to civil rights for same-sex couples in New Jersey, they are complacent with a failed status quo and lining up on the wrong side of history:
But with poll after poll showing that New Jersey residents are not ready to accept gay marriage, it would be more destructive to that movement were it to attempt to force the issue at this time.
I completely disagree with their interpretation of what the polls really show. All recent polling data I could find is at the end of this post, and you can decide for yourself. But the larger point is that polls haven't and shouldn't determine whether or not our country extends civil rights to all.
If we had waited until polls showed overwhelming numbers before enacting civil rights laws, our country would probably be a very different place today.
In 1948, Harry Truman proposed civil rights legislation to desegregate the military, make lynching a federal crime, and end the use of poll taxes to disenfranchise poor blacks. A March 1948 Gallup poll found "deep ambivalence" among the 63% who had heard of the program. "A third (33%) said the whole program should be passed, while 31% said it should not, and 34% would not offer an opinion on the matter."
Truman faced opposition at election time even from within his own party.
This provoked a firestorm of criticism from Southern Democrats in the time leading up to the national nominating convention, but Truman refused to compromise, saying "My forbears were Confederates... But my very stomach turned over when I learned that Negro soldiers, just back from overseas, were being dumped out of army trucks in Mississippi and beaten."
That's quite a contrast to the timidity of some of our candidates (and their supporters) today who are paralyzed by fear of doing anything brave during election season.
The public was also timid during the civil rights era. In a June, 1961 Gallup poll [The Gallup Poll: Public Opinion, page 237] where respondents were asked if integration "should be brought about gradually" or if "every means should be used to bring it about in the near future", 61% said gradually while only 23% said it should happen soon.
The echoes of the past still haunt us today. Our 'progressive' governor thinks we should drag our feet a bit more before providing equality. "It's my own view that that's where our society is at this moment in time," he says.
The proposed Civil Rights Act also did not have overwhelming popular support. A June 1963 Gallup poll identified a "mixed reaction to the idea of racial equality in public places, with a slight plurality (49%) in favor, compared to 42% opposed."
It wasn't until after the legislation passed that support grew significantly. In two polls conducted in September and October of 1964, the public approved of the legislation by 2-1, about 60% to 30%.
Most recent polling in New Jersey (see table below) shows either a plurality or majority support for extending marriage rights to same-sex couples.
We don't need to wait for utopian poll numbers before acting. Because the challenge we're facing today isn't harder than any past battle for equality. We need brave leaders who understand the promise of America. And we need those too timid to join the fight to step aside, or risk standing on the wrong side of history.
A common refrain from those who oppose equal rights for gay couples is that allowing gays to marry and raise families will somehow throw the earth off its axis and crumble the institution of marriage.
But yesterday at the Statehouse we were treated to some unexpected honesty from John "Chicken Little" Tomicki, president of the misnamed "New Jersey Coalition to Preserve and Protect Marriage."
Chairman of Garden State Equality Steven Goldstein, who was married in Canada a few years ago, confronted Tomicki about his claims during a press conference.
Goldstein: "You're still married after 50 years, right? So my marriage has not affected your marriage."
Tomicki responded incredulously: "Why would it?"
And now with that smoke screen blown away, there's not much left to hide the naked homophobia.
Nestled snug between a Baked Lays taste test and their ubiquitous traffic reports, there was Garden State Equality's new South Jersey bureau chief (and Blue Jersey alum) Brian McGinnis --aka SJBrian -- taking the equality debate to FOX 29.
Now for those of you who know how hard going on live TV can be, you recognize this as a command performance.
When someone can't get into the ER to see their sick partner, that's a breach of human dignity. When someone has to fight until their last breath to ensure their parter will receive thier pension benefits, that's a breach of human dignity. When someone is denied heath insurance because their partner is gay, that's a breach of basic human dignity.
The legislature promised us that Civil Unions would fix all that AND IT DIDN'T.
And so the fight goes on: in the trenches, in the statehouse, in the progressive community and -- as Brian demonstrates -- on the airwaves.
This is the Cliff's notes version of the reaction:
Senator Loretta Weinberg:
"The term 'civil union' isn't specific enough, and it's time to change the name to what it really should be - marriage.
Senate President Dick Codey:
"[The Civil Union Review Commission] raised a number of red flags concerning the implementation of the law and its ability to provide true equality for same sex couples."
"I look forward to working closely with our counterparts in the Assembly to determine how best the Legislature should proceed in order to ensure that same sex couples are not being marginalized or denied the rights they so richly deserve."
Governor Jon Corzine:
"...the report does raise significant concerns about whether the law has effectively granted same-sex couples the same rights and benefits of every other family in the State.
Assembly Speaker Roberts:
"It is disheartening that the first anniversary of New Jersey's civil union law brings with it so much evidence that the law is not living up to even the most modest of hopes.
[...] "We will not tolerate anything less than equal treatment for all committed couples."
The Civil Unions Review Commission report to be issued tomorrow makes painfully clear that civil unions aren't providing equality for New Jersey families. They simply don't work, and no amount of tweaking, phone calls and letters from the Governor, or lapse of time can fix a fundamentally flawed system explicitly designed to set up a separate, second-class status of citizens.
The CURC's report is based in part on testimony from real families that have been denied equality as a result of the Civil Union Act. That testimony spanned many hours over the course of three public hearings, but the 21 page report contains just a fraction of those stories.
But anyone who doubts how real this problem is can see for themselves by visiting CivilUnionsDon'tWork.com. It's a new website by Garden State Equality that contains more than 80 youtube videos with over 8 hours of testimony on how civil unions have affected New Jersey families. Check it out, and then tell your legislators that it's time for marriage equality.
I attended the public hearing in New Brunswick, and I thought this was one of the more moving stories:
