(1010 WINS) (TRENTON) Gay and lesbian advocates cheered, hugged and some openly wept as the state Senate voted Thursday to give them many of the same rights as legally married couples. Without a word of opposition, the Senate voted 23-9 to approve a bill granting those rights. Gov. James E. McGreevey is likely to sign the measure into law shortly. Gay and lesbian advocates campaigned to make New Jersey the fifth state to recognize domestic partners. Conservative and religious groups opposed the measure, saying it threatened traditional marriage values.
“Under the legislation, domestic partners would get access to medical benefits, insurance and other legal rights. New Jersey would also recognize such partnerships granted in other states. The bill does not authorize gay marriage, which is against the law in New Jersey. To obtain domestic-partner status, a couple would have to share a residence and show proof of joint financial status or property ownership or designation of the partner as the beneficiary in a retirement plan or will. The bill would not force businesses to offer health coverage to same-sex partners of employees but would require insurance companies to make it available. It would also allow a surviving partner to gain property rights and other survivors’ benefits.”
On thing I am confused about…it says that Jersey becomes the fifth state to recognize domestic partnerships. I know of three, Jersey, VT, and MA. What are the other two? Is Hawaii one of them?
From what Joe Cool said in that interminable Pit thread about andygirl’s college acquaintance who suicided, where he, I, and Gobear argued interminably on most every aspect of the homosexuality issue, Joe and Jersey were not opposed to even gay civil unions per se, and (IIRC) would be inclined to support their legality. They’re firmly against gay sexual liaisons, and presumably heterosexual shacking up as well, on moral grounds based on their religious principles – but they’ve never been the sort of people to believe that “my beliefs should dictate what the laws governing your private behavior ought to be.” No major issue (and I’m aware that domestic partnerships cover other ground than gay people). But with Jersey seldom posting, I thought it only right to stick up for what she (I presume from what Joe said) thinks on this issue.
Now if the other 45 states would just follow suit…
[sub]Poly, my recollection is nowhere near yours. Happily, this side issue is of little consequence, seeing as (IIRC) neither JD nor her husband are in any legal standing in their current location.[/sub]
