Our World

N.J allows same sex unions

New Jersey has opened its law to allow for same sex unions by the state. Homosexual couples will now be able to receive the same benefits that married couples do. Rulings on the new law force N. J to create a law which will offer the couples marriage or something like it such as civil unions. The vote was 4-3 with the minority wanting full legal marriages and the winning party wishing to see similar marriage laws for gay couples as those for heterosexual couples. Law makers have 180 days to rewrite the law. Gay marriages will follows the same rules as heterosexual marriages do, receiving the same privileges and following the same obligations. If the court would have outright legalized gay marriage out of state couples would have been able to receive the marriage as well; this is possible under the Massachusetts law on gay marriages. Although some gay couples see this as a loss in the right for marriage most see it as a big step for the rights of homosexual couples. I believe that this is also a big step for the U.S in general. As the gay rights movement pushes for legal gay unions in all states it shows how diverse ideas are spread through out our country. While we all live under one constitution each state shows a different representation of it. It is interesting to see how diverse states can be.

See http://msnbc.msn.com/id/15416613/ for complete story

posted by Anonymous @ 10/25/2006 06:52:00 PM