NJ Governor Corzine says he’d sign marriage equality law

PolitickerNJ reports the following:
“Over 800 people attended a gala fundraising dinner on Saturday for Garden State Equality, a gay rights organization that advocates same sex marriage. Tickets were between $225 and $1,000. Governor Jon Corzine told the attendees that he would sign a marriage equality law, saying he hopes he gets to do that in 2009.

The Corzine administration also announced a new regulation allowing transgender New Jerseyans would to provide an affidavit of their gender identity to get the Motor Vehicle Commission to change the gender on their license to drive. In the past, the state had required gender reassignment surgery.

The Legislature is widely expected to consider same sex marriage legislation after the November election.”

Good for you Gov. Corzine!

h/t Queerty

NJ Marriage Poll: 48% support marriage equality

A new Monmouth University/Gannett New Jersey poll suggests that 48% of New Jersey residents favor full marriage equality, with only 43% opposed (and the rest not knowing/caring/cognizant of where they are). Additionally, the shows that a firm 50% oppose a constitutional ban on same-sex unions, with only 41% willing to mar the state’s most precious governing document with bias:

NJ Divided on Same-Sex Marriage [Monmouth Polling]

Everywhere the poll numbers continue to show that the public understands and supports marriage equality. New Jersey is very close to having full marriage equality and their poll numbers are lower than RI. Nearly half of Rhode Island’s voters (49 percent) favor marriage rights for same-sex couples, compared to 37 percent who oppose marriage equality.

Come to the State House next Thursday and let the Senate Judiciary Committee know it is time to start supporting their constituents.

h/t Good As You

NJ Court Recognizes Canadian Marriage for Purpose of Divorce

TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — Gay marriages performed outside New Jersey are recognized in the state for the purpose of divorce, according to a ruling Friday by a judge deciding whether a lesbian couple married in Canada can split.

The wider implications weren’t immediately clear, but Superior Court Judge Mary Jacobson said New Jersey has a long history of recognizing marriages that are valid where they were performed.

The state doesn’t let gays marry but does allow civil unions. The state Supreme Court has ruled that gay couples have the rights to the same legal standing as married heterosexual couples.

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