T O P I C R E V I E W |
Broken Face |
Posted - 10/25/2006 : 12:42:36 http://www.cnn.com/2006/LAW/10/25/jersey.samesex.ap/index.html
New Jersey court recognizes same-sex unions
POSTED: 3:34 p.m. EDT, October 25, 2006
TRENTON, New Jersey (AP) -- New Jersey's Supreme Court ruled Wednesday that same-sex couples are entitled to the same rights as heterosexual couples.
But the court left it to the Legislature to determine whether the state will honor gay marriage or some other form of civil union.
The case was brought by seven gay couples who say the state constitution allows them to marry. (Opinion -- pdfexternal link)
New Jersey is one of only five U.S. states with neither a law nor a state constitutional amendment blocking same-sex marriage. As a result, the state is more likely than others to allow gays to wed, said advocacy groups on both sides.
Only Massachusetts -- by virtue of a 2003 ruling from that state's top court -- allows gay marriages.
Proponents and opponents from across the country are watching the case closely.
"New Jersey is a stepping stone," said Matt Daniels, president of the Virginia-based Alliance for Marriage, a group pushing for an amendment to the federal Constitution to outlaw same-sex marriage. "It's not about New Jersey."
From a practical standpoint, the Massachusetts court decision made little impact nationally because the state has a law barring out-of-state couples from wedding there if their marriages would not be recognized in their home states.
New Jersey has no such law.
People on both sides of the issue expect a victory for same-sex unions would make New Jersey a destination for gay couples from around the country who want to get married. Some of those couples could return home and sue to have their marriages recognized.
Daniels said gay-rights advocates are already looking ahead to such lawsuits. "Their game, of course, is they figure all they need to do is execute this maneuver in a half-dozen states and they'll have the momentum," he said.
David S. Buckel, the Lambda Legal lawyer who argued on behalf of the seven New Jersey couples, said he expects some couples would travel to the New Jersey to get married if his suit is successful. But, he said, "it won't be tidal."
Buckel said that there have been relatively few such lawsuits filed in the U.S. by couples who went to Canada to exchange vows.
And, he said, while many same-sex couples would prefer to be married, they are getting more legal protections for their relationships. Several states, including New Jersey, offer domestic partnerships or civil unions with some of the benefits of marriage. A growing number of employers are treating same-sex couples the same way they treat married couples.
Cases similar to New Jersey's are pending in California, Connecticut, Iowa and Maryland.
Conservatives watching the cases believe the best chance for gay marriage to be allowed would be in New Jersey, where the state Supreme Court has a history of extending civil rights protections.
Gay marriage supporters have had a two-year losing streak, striking out in state courts in New York and Washington state and in ballot boxes in 15 states where constitutions have been amended to ban same-sex unions. - - - - - - - -
Another reason to love the Garden State. Thank goodness for people coming to their senses.
-Brian - http://bvsrant.blogspot.com |
6 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
vilainde |
Posted - 10/26/2006 : 04:58:19 <<Homosexuality in humans is a hot-button issue that gets plenty of coverage, but same-gender sex in animals rarely makes headlines. The organizers of a new Norwegian exhibition on homosexual behavior in the animal kingdom hope to call attention to the often ignored subject.
“People always come up with the argument that homosexuality is somehow against nature. And that’s not true,” said Petter Bøckman, the academic advisor for the "Against Nature?" exhibition at the Norwegian Natural History Museum of the University of Oslo.
Through models, photos, texts, and specimens ranging in size from tiny insects to enormous sperm whales, visitors can learn about a small selection of gay animals.
Scientists have observed homosexual behavior in 1,500 animal species, said Bøckman. Take, for instance, bonobos, one of our closest relatives and perhaps the most well-known homosexual animals. “They’re known to be rampantly bisexual,” he said. Killer whales, bottlenose dolphins, West Indian manatees, and giraffes have all-male orgies. Among black-headed gulls, scientists estimate that one in ten pairs is comprised of two females. Same-sex penguin couples have been known to have long relationships and raise chicks.
Homosexuality is most widespread among animals with a complex herd life. It functions as a kind of social glue for bonobos, who use sex to diffuse conflict—a marked difference from other primates that solve conflicts with violence. Homosexuality also plays a social role among other male animals, such as big horn sheep and lions.
But researchers have no idea what the advantage is, if any, of homosexual behavior among dragonflies, scarab beetles, or, as observed at least once, two male octopuses of different species.
“There are some surprising things going on in the animal kingdom, and a lot of these things we have no explanation for,” said Bøckman. He and others at the museum hope the exhibition will help break a long-held taboo against talking about, and publishing on, the subject. “We need more research,” he said.
The exhibition is long overdue, said Joan Roughgarden, a biologist at Stanford University and author of Evolution’s Rainbow: Diversity, Gender and Sexuality in Nature and People. She points out that in the U.S., museums, nature shows, introductory biology courses, and even peer-reviewed journals often shy away from mentioning homosexuality in the animal kingdom. “They’re not painting an accurate picture of life in the animal kingdom,” she said.
Roughgarden said the exhibition could help bring the phenomenon out of the closet. “I hope this is only the beginning,” she said. >>
Denis
|
Homers_pet_monkey |
Posted - 10/26/2006 : 04:53:48 quote: Originally posted by Thomas
What's gay is this thread will get more hits and response than my post on the mating habits of the mighty Baboon.
"Our Love is Rice and Beans and Horses Lard"
Now if you'd only started a thread about gay baboons.
I'd walk her everyday, into a shady place
|
Little Black Francis |
Posted - 10/25/2006 : 16:56:12 I missed that post. On Sunday Animal Planet had like 12 hours of monkey shows, it was awesome.
this is your new home |
Thomas |
Posted - 10/25/2006 : 16:33:40 What's gay is this thread will get more hits and response than my post on the mating habits of the mighty Baboon.
"Our Love is Rice and Beans and Horses Lard" |
Little Black Francis |
Posted - 10/25/2006 : 15:10:23 VA will be voting on a marriage amendment in November. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/10/16/AR2006101601438.html
The Republicans are making it a gay marriage issue, basically convincing people that they're voting for gay marriage or not, when in fact that's not exactly what you are voting for. The Rep. even use the idea of gay marriage against the Dems, so Dems try not to bring it up because it's such a hot topic. I think this amendment is going to pass and that really sucks. I have never heard an argument that convinces me that there is any reason to prohibit gay marriage. Anyways, awesome NJ.
this is your new home |
Daisy Girl |
Posted - 10/25/2006 : 14:46:48 way to go NJ! |
|
|