USA: New Jersey's highest court guarantees gay couples the same rights as married heterosexuals

New Jersey's highest court on Wednesday (October 25, 2006) guaranteed gay couples the same rights as married heterosexuals, but left it up to state lawmakers to decide if such unions can be called marriage. "Times and attitudes have changed," the New Jersey Supreme Court said in a nuanced 90-page ruling certain to fuel America's culture wars ahead of Nov. 7 elections, when eight states will vote on same-sex marriage laws. Advocates on both sides declared varying degrees of victory and disappointment on the latest twist in a battle that has divided the country over issues of gay culture and morality. "One of the things we're going to push in the legislature is a constitutional amendment to allow the people, the public to make the ultimate decision of how they wish to have marriage defined in New Jersey." John Tomiki of the League Of American Families said. Same-sex marriage has faced legal and political roadblocks in much of the United States and has been a hot-button issue since 2003, when Massachusetts' highest court ruled it was unconstitutional to ban gay marriage, paving the way for America's first same-sex marriages in May 2004. Some gay activists pledged to stop at nothing short of full marriage rights, while opponents took heart that the court chose to give the legislature a role in deciding the issue. "We now hold that ... committed same-sex couples must be afforded on equal terms the same rights and benefits enjoyed by married, opposite-sex couples," the court said in a 4-3 ruling. Gay advocates must now "appeal to their fellow citizens whose voices are heard through their popularly elected representatives," the court said. In the 2004 election, many states had ballot initiatives limiting gay marriage -- a factor credited with boosting the vote for President George W. Bush. On Nov. 7, voters in eight states will decide on constitutional amendments limiting gay marriage or unions. Gay activists said they would launch a television advertising campaign, hold town meetings and solicit support from residents across the state.

ITN Source | October 26, 2006

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