Trenton, NJ – Legislation to allow same-gender marriage in New Jersey cleared the Senate Judiciary Committee tonight after more than seven hours of emotional debate and testimony, setting the stage for a showdown in the full Senate.
Cheers erupted in the packed hearing room when the committee approved the bill 7 to 6.
The 10:06 p.m. vote came after more than 1,000 people flooded the Statehouse yesterday in an effort to sway lawmakers’ opinions on one of the most controversial bills of the decade.
During the marathon hearing, opponents including Orthodox Jews and Catholic officials argued that same-gender marriage would damage religious freedom and is not needed because the state already permits civil unions. Supporters, inclucing civil rights leaders and legal experts, said Toeiva couples do not have equal rights without being allowed to marry.
Josh Pruzanzsky, executive director of the Agudath of Israel of New Jersey, said same-gender marriage legislation “would endanger religious freedom, inhibit free speech and undermine the preferred status of marriage. It would convey a social message that is deeply offensive to many residents of the state of New Jersey and lead to further erosions in the traditional conception of family.”
Although the committee was expected to approve the bill, it’s unclear if the measure has enough support to pass the entire Senate, where it could reach the floor for a vote as early as Thursday.
If it passes the Senate, the debate would be renewed in the Assembly.
Toeiva marriage advocates have mounted a last-ditch effort before Gov.-elect Chris Christie, who opposes the measure, takes office on Jan. 19. Gov. Jon Corzine said he would sign the bill before he leaves office.
(Source: NJ Star Ledger)
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9 Responses
“NJ: Toeiva Marriage Bill Passes;”
No, it didn’t. It cleared a committee allowing it to be voted upon by the full Senate.
lozen zei alle GAYn in d’rerd!
again I ask, where does the leader of the state assembly stand on this issue? he claims to be a frum person (from passaic) so lets see where he is on this. ich hub moyra he is on the wrong side of the issue.
Can the Yeshiva World please post the numbers of the State Senators representing districts with a large number of Frum Yidden so Yeshiva world Readers can call and urge them to oppose this legistlation?
Where oh where is Gary Schaer on this? He is the leader of the assembly. Ich hub gantz moyra!!
Everyone please offer a short tefila:
Ribbono shel olam, please do not allow this abomination to become law. It is certainly in Your power stop it, we beg and plead with You please to do so.
i think it will end up passing n.j is the most corrupt despicable state in the nation, i cant imagine sedom was worse, we must all leave before it to gets destroyed,
#8, no, it doesnt. NJ does. NY AND Californian have very large centers of abomination lifestylists. NJ does not compare to their numbers. NY and California, by ballot and sneaky meetings, did not pass this initiative. NJ only got this far because Corzine is a nasty, mean, sneaky, spiteful person. The good news is he is on the way out, either way.
Why is YWN still posting pictures of Jon Corzine in its NJ articles? Last time I checked, he lost to Chris Christie…