NJ And Gay Marriage

[Viki]

Well, what do we think? At the least, it's a step in the right direction, eh?

 

[rcostello1]

Fear not , Virginia will take us two steps back (or more) in less than two weeks. Perhaps we will move to NJ.

 

[Viki]

Fear not , Virginia will take us two steps back (or more) in less than two weeks. Perhaps we will move to NJ.

LOL!!!

Jeez, I AM old, you just reminded me that over 30 years ago, back in my wild lesbian/feminist days, I traveled down to VA and traveled door-to-door to try and convince a few Virginians to vote for progressive candidates.

I think I even slept on the floor! OMG, those were the days!!!

 

[NewJersey]

Never have I been more proud to be born and raised, and residing in NJ!

The SC has given the state legislature 180 days either to grant civil unions or gay marriage. What a great day!

 

[DVC~OKW~96]

Wow. That is incredible. Good for New Jersey!

Virginia isn't so very bad. You could be stuck here in Florida.

 

[Chuck S]

It is a good ruling, except it comes right before an election where some states have anti-gay marriage amendments on the ballot. It is sure to suddenly energize the ultra-conservative voters and help the Republican party somewhat in the election.

 

[Uncle Remus]

It is a good ruling, except it comes right before an election where some states have anti-gay marriage amendments on the ballot. It is sure to suddenly energize the ultra-conserative voters and help the Republican party somewhat in the election.

Stop readin' my mind
I just hope civil unions are legal before I die!
Dang it!

 

[vascubaguy]

Fear not , Virginia will take us two steps back (or more) in less than two weeks. Perhaps we will move to NJ.

Need any roommates?

In a twisted way I'd like to see the amendment in VA pass and then let the politicians deal with the backlash when people start using the new amendment to back out of legit business deals, etc.

However, I know a few people that have power of attorney for each other (same sex couple) and as soon as this goes into law, that will be out the door.

Perhaps the NJ decision will spark challenges all over the country as folks head to NJ to get legal civil unions or marriage and then head back to their states and file suit for recognition.

I'm the glad NJ decision is moving us back in a positive direction...

 

[OrlandoMike]

If you dont mind me asking, whats going on in VA?

 

[ConcKahuna]

Other than such fun stuff as the proposed "support traditional marraige" liscense plates? Let's just say that the government in Virginia is starting to make Jeb look like a liberal

 

[rcostello1]

In Virginia they want to outlaw gay marriage but at the sametime (the way it is written) basically outlaw anything that would give equality of any sort to any two people who are not married. Meaning any legal instrument such as POA, etc. between two people of the same sex or two unmarried people could become invalid.

Now that might sound impossible but hey are are Virginia and tobacco is good for you. The main problem (aside from no gay marriage or anything "equivalent") is the broadly-worded part about no anything for anyone if you're not married. That will be the interesting oops we f'ed ourselves if it is interpreted through the courts to nullify legal instruments between unmarried straight couples.

"They" say that isn't the intent but when someone dies and the deceased's family doesn't like the person (gay) to whom property was left I can see that in court in about 3 seconds...

Like I said, Jersey is looking good... They had a gay governer didn't they? hehe

 

[Boston5602]

Perhaps the NJ decision will spark challenges all over the country as folks head to NJ to get legal civil unions or marriage and then head back to their states and file suit for recognition.
I'm the glad NJ decision is moving us back in a positive direction...

unless of course they're like Massachusetts , where us big flaming Gay's/ Lesbians have been able to marry for 2 1/2 years . When people from other states came here to get married our republican Mormon governor revived ( it hadn't been used in over 40 years in any way ) a racially bigoted law preventing " mixed marriages " performed here from being recognised as legally married in other states. our Gov , who is running for president ( vote anyone else ) revived this law against gays.

Does anyone know how long it takes New Jersey to change laws , its two years and then a ballot vote here in Mass , but years ago Hawaii Supreme Court stated they had to have gay marriage too , but they had enough time to change the constitution to not allow it .

 

[vascubaguy]

In Virginia they want to outlaw gay marriage but at the sametime (the way it is written) basically outlaw anything that would give equality of any sort to any two people who are not married. Meaning any legal instrument such as POA, etc. between two people of the same sex or two unmarried people could become invalid.

As I recall if it passes it means any two people of the same sex can not have any legal contracts that convey any of the rights and protections of marriage. So, regardless of whether the people are gay or have any type of relationship... if a female decides to leave her best friend (also female) part of her estate in her will it could be challenged under the proposed new law so that the will would not be valid. If 2 people of the same sex (even if they are family, but not necessarily next of kin) have power of attorney to make medical decisions, that power could be found illegal.

Leave it to Virginia. There has been a lot of publicity about how poorly written this is so hopefully the voters will realize the impact and vote it down... however, we are in VA so I'm not holding my breath.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Y'know (yeah, I know you all do), this whole issue is nuts.
Isn't divorce FAR more harmful to family values, and morals, and, well, quality of life, than two consenting adults entering into a contract that gives them EQUAL rights to all other married couples? Did I phrase that right? I mean, who gives a rat's patoot who marries whom? Whose business is it? Why do people even have the opportunity to POSSIBLY vote on who can marry?

 

[Rence]

We have a similar amendment on the November ballot here in Wisconsin. Things were looking pretty good. The local polls (which are never that reliable) had the amendment passing by only a small margin. The anti-amendment forces are more organized. There was hope that it could be defeated.

With the NJ ruling, the pro-amendment forces are running around screaming that NJ courts ruled for gay marriage, which is not what happened. But apparantly lying is a family value.

I fear that the NJ ruling may have tipped the balance and the vicious hate-filled amendment may pass. We may be moving, but I'm more of a mid-westerner and so far the enlightened states are all costal. My current guess is that Minnesota is the best chance for civil unions / gay marriage in the mid-west.

It is too bad, Wisconsin was the first state to pass a state-wide anti-discrimination law for gays and lesbians, but times have changed.

 

[vascubaguy]

Y'know (yeah, I know you all do), this whole issue is nuts.
Isn't divorce FAR more harmful to family values, and morals, and, well, quality of life, than two consenting adults entering into a contract that gives them EQUAL rights to all other married couples? Did I phrase that right? I mean, who gives a rat's patoot who marries whom? Whose business is it? Why do people even have the opportunity to POSSIBLY vote on who can marry?

I know I'm taking this off topic some, but this whole issue was brought up tonight in a higher education law course that I'm taking. One of the disturbing things that was brought up was that a person can still be fired from their job simply because they are GLBT. Perhaps ones reason that the Civil Rights Acts have never been amended to include sexual orientation is that if it did, what would that mean for cases filed against the military?

It's truly sad that in this day in time we even have to fight this battle. But we have to vote on this because there are those in power that wish to force their will on others.

 

[SeattleRedBear]

Well, what do we think? At the least, it's a step in the right direction, eh?

So Viki....when did you turn into a Canadian?

 

[Viki]

So Viki....when did you turn into a Canadian?

LOL!!!

You are so onto me. I am just this little cultural sponge. You put it out there, I pick it up! It is soooooo embarassing.

When my best British Bud flies in for the holidays on Xmas Eve, I'm always sounding like a fellow Brit by New Year's Eve!

 

[ConcKahuna]

Here's a pair of articles that were e-mailed to me that fit this post perfectly...

Proposed Virginia Amendment Banning Gay Marriage Stirs Debate on College Campuses


N.J. high court opens door to gay marriage