New Jersey Civil Unions
Wednesday February 21, 2007
Gay and lesbian couples in New Jersey became eligible for the same state rights as married heterosexual couples this week. Monday was the first day gay and lesbian couples could apply for civil unions under New Jersey law. Dozens of couples applied for civil union licenses already. But many in New Jersey and elsewhere are not satisfied with civil unions. Because civil union benefits are not equal to those of marriage, gay and lesbian activists believe civil unions create a separate and unequal class of citizens. Many vow to sue for the full rights of marriage. Massachusetts is the only state in the U.S. to allow gay marriage, but because of the Defense of Marriage Law, even Massachusetts married gay and lesbian couples are only eligible for state benefits. Here's all you need to know about New Jersey Civil Unions.
What are your thoughts? Should gays and lesbians be happy with civil unions? Should we continue to fight for full marriage equality? Should we do away with marriage all together and institute civil unions for everyone? Add your thoughts below.
Photo © by Kathy Belge
Comments
I think “civil unions” should be governed by the government, and should not be regulated by any religious tenants, as is supposed to be the case for any other government policy, institution, etc. I think that “holy matrimony” should be governed by private religious entities, ie churches, mosques, temples, synagogues, etc.
I think the state should give out civil union liscenses to everyone, gay or straight, not marriage liscenses. I believe that marriage is a spiritual union, governed by God, that no government should have control over. Render unto Caesar what is Caeser’s, and unto God what is God’s. Separate the church and the state.
Civil unions are just lesser rights made up by a Legislative government that could care less. And this came from democratic president who was suppose to be for social economics. Yeah, right.
Civil unions are a staple of a lesser group of people. Marriage should be for everyone, it should and be treated as a private contract, regardless what the churches and the government say.
Because it is an individual’s right.
My comment is lacking extended vocabulary, but I say we continue to fight for full marriage equality. We’re all God’s children, not just who the government says is God’s children. Screw the government.
just for the record, I believe that everyone should be able to get a civil union from the state, as well as a marriage, because my personal belief (I’m a Christian) is that God loves gays and lesbians and would want them to get married.