Same-sex marriage licences issued now in NEW JERSEY

K

kuifje75

Guest
Yay! Finally in my HOME STATE, NEW JERSEY!

BREAKING NEWS: First gay wedding in New Jersey held in Asbury Park

Published in the Asbury Park Press
Staff report
ASBURY PARK - Ric Best and Louis Navarrete of Asbury Park were married today in city hall, becoming the first gay couple to married in New Jersey and drawing the city and state into the center of a widening national debate over same-sex marriage.

The ceremony uniting the two men in marriage was held at 3:30 p.m., 72 hours after the couple applied for a marriage license in the city clerk's office, and was performed by city deputy Mayor James Bruno. Bruno said Mayor Kevin Sanders refused to perform the marriage; Sanders was unavailable for comment today.

In addition to Bruno, two other city council mayors . . . Kate Mellina and John Loffredo, who is gay -- attended the ceremony in a show of official as well as personal support.

"We're very happy today," Best, 44, said as he rushed from city hall to a waiting car. "It's been a long time coming," Navarrete, 42, added, gripping Best's hand and smiling.

http://www.app.com/
 
Yeah... I wonder if Vineland, who was among one of the few New Jersey cities to offer benefits to same sex couples, would also start issuing same sex marriage licences? I doubt it though. LOL
 
Now this is going to be a big snowball rolling along!

Mayor Newsom started the thing with just a nice little snowball rolling off the hills of San Francisco. Now the snowball is gaining big momentum! and it will be a pretty huge snowball rolling at high speed that nobody can stop it!
 
From: http://www.nbc10.com/news/2906491/detail.html

Ceremony Takes Place In City Council Chambers

POSTED: 5:57 pm EST March 8, 2004
UPDATED: 6:26 pm EST March 8, 2004

ASBURY PARK, Pa. -- A gay couple were married in City Hall on Monday after being issued a license by city officials who claim New Jersey law does not explicitly ban such unions.

In a short 3:30 p.m. ceremony attended by about 10 people, Louis Navarrete and Ric Best, both of Asbury Park, tied the knot in City Council chambers.

The two had paid $28 for a marriage license on Friday and waited the requisite 72 hours, according to Laura Jewell, a spokeswoman for City Clerk Dawn Tomek.

Monday's wedding was the first gay marriage ceremony performed in New Jersey. Six other applications for same-sex weddings are pending, city officials said.

"As a show of support to the city's gay community and the gay community nationwide, the City of Asbury Park has determined that it will commence the issuance of licenses to same-sex couples and the solemnization of marriage between same-sex couples, immediately, as a matter of fundamental civil and constitutional rights," Tomek said in a written statement.

"We're proud that New Jersey is at the forefront of the marriage equality movement," said Steven Goldstein, New Jersey campaign manager for Lambda Legal, a gay activist organization.

Tomek said New Jersey is one of 12 states that have no statute expressly banning same-sex marriages and that nothing in state law defines marriage as the exclusive province of opposite-sex couples.

Not so, according to William Dressel, executive director of the New Jersey State League of Municipalities, which has had inquiries from municipalities about the legality of same-sex unions.

"Unless and until the New Jersey courts or Legislature make it legal to issue same-sex marriage licenses, a person who performs a same-sex marriage can be prosecuted under this statute, just as he or she could be prosecuted for performing an opposite sex marriage without a valid marriage license," Dressel said.

A representative for the state Attorney General's Office said Monday that the office had not yet been officially informed of the Asbury Park case and had no immediate comment.

On Nov. 5, the Law Division of New Jersey Superior Court held that New Jersey's marriage statutes do not permit same-sex marriages. Nothing in the state constitution guarantees same-sex unions as a right and the appropriate forum to change marriage laws is the Legislature, the judge ruled.

The ruling is being appealed by gay activists, including Lambda Legal.

Gov. James E. McGreevey supports domestic partnership measures but not gay marriage.

"The governor believes that the domestic partnership law is the best way to protect people's basic human rights," McGreevey spokesman Micah Rasmussen said. "We're working hard to implement that law now. The issue of marriage is one that is before the courts."

New Jersey recognized domestic partnerships in January, becoming the fifth state to legally create a union for same-sex couples. Once regulations are completed in July, domestic partners will gain access to medical benefits, insurance and other legal rights. New Jersey will also recognize such partnerships granted in other states. The bill did not authorize gay marriage.

To obtain domestic partner status, a couple 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.
 
On November 5, 2003, a trial court in New Jersey upheld the state's ban on same-sex marriage. But this year, on January 8, the New Jersey Senate followed the trend in a small but growing number of states and approved a domestic partnership law that gives formal recognition to same-sex couples.

The Governor of New Jersey is expected to sign the bill into law shortly. New Jersey's law is modest in scope. But it is also important in both practical and symbolic ways.

Some Features of the New Jersey Domestic Partnership Regime

New Jersey's "Domestic Partnership Act" creates a legal status that is available both to same-sex couples and to opposite-sex couples over age 62. (The potential loss of, or reduction in, retirement benefits for senior couples sometimes makes them reticent to marry, despite being in a committed relationship.)

According to the legislative findings, the state recognizes that many individuals choose to live in "important personal, emotional and economic committed relationships with another individual," and that these relationships assist the state in promoting the "financial, physical and emotional health of their participants." Although a central purpose of the bill is certainly to validate the rights of same-sex couples, it also has the effect of encouraging private dependencies rather than reliance on state benefits.

The bill provides formal recognition of domestic partnerships, without recognizing a right of same-sex couples to marry. It also specifically states that New Jersey will recognize similar partnerships created elsewhere--such as a Vermont civil union or an Hawaii reciprocal beneficiary relationship.

To read the rest, go to: http://writ.news.findlaw.com/grossman/20040113.html
 
Interesting news!

From now on, I must try to imagine seeing two bridegrooms in tie and suits holding hands each other walking down the church aisle? Will they call "My husband" to each other?

Same with two white full length lesbian brides, will they call each other "My Wife" too?
 
Thanks to our president's flithy mouth about gay marriage ban. What if he mum his mouth, gay people will not get married till later.

I do believe George W. Bush's words affect GLBT community become more alert. Fighting against his considering. Way to go, GLBT :thumb:
 
RedRum said:
Interesting news!

From now on, I must try to imagine seeing two bridegrooms in tie and suits holding hands each other walking down the church aisle? Will they call "My husband" to each other?

Same with two white full length lesbian brides, will they call each other "My Wife" too?
Click to expand...

It doesn't necessarily have to be in a church. You know, there are "civil marriages" too for people who are not religious and dont want to be married in a church but in the city hall. My uncle married his wife in the local city hall. So, I think a large part of same sex marriages would be done this way. However, the Unitarian Universist Church does marry same sex couples.

My sister married her wife in Vermont last year, and it is not recognised in New Jersey until in July, finally it will be recognised! Yipeee!
 
Lasza said:
Thanks to our president's flithy mouth about gay marriage ban. What if he mum his mouth, gay people will not get married till later.

I do believe George W. Bush's words affect GLBT community become more alert. Fighting against his considering. Way to go, GLBT :thumb:
Click to expand...


:werd: i agree Lasza!!!!!!! :thumb:

WTG to New Jersey!!!!!!!! :thumb:
 
Wow ! My childhood friend (Lesbian couple)
still live in Asbury Park NJ !! Geez, I'm gonna
check with them about this :)
 
Kristen's 2 Cents Worht

I am Canadian so I can't really comment on Bush as a leader even if I do believe that what he does is wrong. I think that gay or lesbian couples who choose to get married is okay because it is their decision to make. Who are we as human beings to say what is good for someone else other than ourselves. A marriage licence is a piece of paper that has great vaule and I believe that anyone should be able to get it. People always talk about equality for all but by denying them anything that others can get is the same kind of predjudice. It is the same thing as descriminating against another another race. Gay people are just like everyone else and should not be denied anything based on sexual preference.
 
My 2 cents about same sex marriage and Bush

I am a Canadian so I don't really have the right to say any thing about George W. Bush because he's is not my president. I belive that him wanting to banned same sex marriages is wrong . Who is he to judge noone made him God and why is he trying to play that role. You can't help who you fall in love with and I think that if someone falls in love with someone of the same sex who are we to all judge that. To me I think that anyone has the right to get married because it is just a piece of paper you sign to state you are married what about common law marriages? Gays and lesbians should have all the same rights as heterosexuals nothing sholud stand in their way. As for same sex marriges as a sin, okay what about the sins we all make in our lives.
 
Domestic Partnership

Fly Free said:
: WTG to New Jersey!!!!!!!! :thumb:
Click to expand...
I'm from NJ.. I would have to tell you how great to have domestic partnership.. because my partner of 15 years is a certified interpreter. She had to pay for her health insurance out of her pocket which is ridiculously expensive. With the domestic partnership, I have her under my health insurance (health, prescription, and dental). Now I have a peace of mind knowing that she's covered if anything happens to her :cuddle:
 
I blamed myself...

2 years ago, I was chatting in Gay Chatroom and tell them why not
get married... Have a gay marriage or whatever....

And a gay man said "good idea"...

I can't believe people are actually listen to my crazy idea...
and look what happen now. :roll:

Then I told them why not have gay tv.... and I don't know if they have that already.

Maybe I should go back in AOL chatroom and tell other
stupid idea.... WOW, I can't believe people listen to me. I talked too much.
 
sorry to break your own "world" but gay marriage and civil unions have been legal for a long time in some countries such as Holland, Belgium, France, Germany, Scandinavia, etc... Your idea, my foot.
 
deaflibrarian said:
:laugh2: What nonsense Mz. P., that you would think marriages between gays and lesbaisn was your idea. That was a good laugh chicky.
Click to expand...

I was telling the gay people in chatroom that the only
way AIDS and Hiv to stop spreading in the gay community...
if the gay folks live in a monogamous relationship, such as marriage.

And then I was in Christian chatroom on AOL, Christians
were critizing the gay person...
and I said Jesus said we must love everyone and don't judge.

That was me, I said that...
You can call me hypocrite... and all, but anyway.. it is the truth. :fingersx:
 
Back
Top