October 25th, 2006

In an historic decision, the New Jersey Supreme Court ruled on October 25th that gay and lesbian couples can no longer be denied equal access to the rights and responsibilities conferred by marriage. The court ruled that legislature must, within 180 days, address the discrimination LGBT couples face by being denied access to marriage. It is now up to the legislature to finish the job and affirm equal marriage rights for the over 20,000 same-sex couples living in New Jersey today.

COLAGE and our members intimately know that validation and recognition of our families through equal access to the rights and responsibilities awarded through marriage will help make the world safer and more just for all children and families.

The decision in favor of these same sex couples and their kids was unanimous. Three justices voted to end marriage discrimination immediately, while four said that gay and lesbian couples must be given all the rights and protections and that the legislature should, and will, have the opportunity to decide how to make that happen.

Beth Teper, COLAGE Executive Director commented, "This is a great step forward in the ongoing battle to secure benefits and protections for our families. I applaud the support that the New Jersey Supreme Court has awarded to the thousands of youth with LGBT parents living in NJ who will now benefit from their families being recognized and respected."

COLAGE Speak Out Member, Kerry Cullen, the teen daughter of a lesbian mom that lives in New Jersey shared, “I'm ridiculously happy about the rights [awarded by this ruling], but I still feel that the unions should be called marriage. I think it would mean a lot, especially to younger kids, to be able to know that their parents were married. Not only that, but refusing to call it marriage is still intolerance--a more tolerant form, but intolerance nonetheless. Let's just say I can't wait for the 180 days to be over and I hope my state awards our families the full recognition of marriage.”

The decision, along with background about the case and the issues, can be found at www.freedomtomarry.org.