Short and sad diary, hope no one's already gotten here.
http://www.nj.com/...
TRENTON -- The state Senate rejected a same-sex marriage bill today, a major victory for opponents who contend the measure would infringe on religious freedom and is not needed because the state already permits civil unions.
The 20-14 vote defeating the measure followed an hour and a half of public debate inside the packed Senate chamber. The nearly thousand supporters and opponents of the bill held rallies on the Statehouse steps.
This wasn't unexpected, but it's disheartening all the same. With only about a dozen senators vocally supporting the bill, passage was a long-shot, but the fact that so few of the silent ones came down on our side is upsetting and fairly disgusting. New Jersey residents are closely divided on this issue, and lean toward marriage rights. Surely Democratic senators in Jersey don't have to fear for their seats on an issue so popular with the people who actually elected them.
Not only that, but Jersey routinely ranks as one of the least-religious states and our conservatives tend to be less fundamentalist and more fat-cat elitist than many other states (take it from a guy raised in one of the richest counties in the nation). This is not a state where "values" (read: "bullshit") issues are going to make or break many careers. So I'm a little shocked by the total spinelessness among the Democratic majority, even if I'm not shocked by the end result.
Garden State Equality keeps a stiff upper lip:
Garden State Equality director Steven Goldstein said he had conflicting feelings after the bill's defeat.
"Though we didn’t achieve our final victory today, we’re better positioned than we were a few months ago to win marriage equality," he said. "On the one hand, we resent, more than you can imagine, remaining second-class citizens a bit longer. On the other hand, the ball has moved forward."
Goldstein said they would take the issue to the courts next.
"We are not waiting out the term of any new Administration to bring equality to same-sex couples in our state," Goldstein said.
Jersey courts have been a little waffly on the issue, but we wouldn't be as far along as we are without them, so I'll give them the benefit of the doubt that they'll give this issue their due. Until they disappoint us, like the Senate has, anyway....