The New Jersey gay advocacy group Garden State Equality and seven same-sex couples and their children filed suit Wednesday, arguing that same-sex marriages should be recognized by the state.
The group filed in Superior Court Wednesday, and according to Matt Friedman of the Star-Ledger:
Their main argument is that the state Supreme Court ruled in 2006 that same sex couples should be guaranteed the same rights as heterosexual married couples, but in a 4-3 vote left it up to the Legislature how to achieve that. The minority in that decision said the state needed to allow marriage for same-sex couples.
Steven Goldstein, the Chairman of Garden State Equality, said the civil union law in the state is a “wall dividing the moral fabric of the state.” He added: “New Jersey: Tear down that wall.”
[TPM SLIDESHOW: NYC Celebrates After Marriage Equality Passes The State Senate]
“Gov. Christie says no way will there be marriage equality in New Jersey,” he said. “And we say no way are we going to listen to him.”
The move comes shortly after New York legalized same-sex marriage, though NJ’s Gov. Chris Christie said he wouldn’t sign a gay marriage bill if it reached his desk. “In our state, we’re going to continue to pursue civil unions,” he said on Meet The Press. “I am not a fan of same-sex marriage. It’s not something that I support.”
A Democratic Assemblyman in New Jersey recently introduced a marriage equality bill, though it has little chance of success.
Jillian Rayfield
Jillian Rayfield is a Reporter/Blogger for TPM, and started as a News Intern in May 2009. She graduated from Cornell University in May 2008 with a degree in Film, and worked as a Research Assistant for a market research firm in London in between.
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