New Jersey lawmakers were given a mandate from the State Supreme Court, give gay and lesbian couples the same rights and benefits as married heterosexual couples. The court made it clear that to deny gays and lesbians the same rights was against the New Jersey constitution. But the state legislature had a choice, they could allow gays and lesbians to marry, or they could create a new option. New Jersey chose, instead of gay marriage, to allow for gay and lesbian civil unions. Democratic Gov. Jon Corzine has publicly stated that he will sign the bill and when he does, New Jersey will be the third state to offer civil unions, behind Vermont and Connecticut. California allows gay couples to register as domestic partners and Massachusetts is the only state in the U.S. that allows gay marriage. Here's all you need to know about New Jersey's Civil Union law

Where can gays and lesbians marry?
_{© Photo by Marja Flick-Buijs}