More on NJ Government Commission's report on the failure of civil unions

[Natasha]

More on NJ Government Commission's report on the failure of civil unions

http://www.pamshouseblend.com/showDiary.do;jsessionid=7EE89A8C1E5519AB3CB951D1F0F69D09?diaryId=8575
Pam Spaulding
Wed Dec 10, 2008 at 16:00:00 PM EST

This important document will provide concrete evidence for the U.S. Supreme Court when it one day is faced with arguments for and against marriage equality. Every state that tries to pass a marriage amendment will have this report at its disposal.

But the heart of today's report is its delineation of the harm that New Jersey's civil union law has pro-actively inflicted upon same-sex couples. 

"I'm a pro-life Republican and past Director of Gloucester County Right-to-Life," said Commission member AnnLynne Benson on the release of today's report, "so I know the diversity of this Commission.  Our report demonstrates in exquisite detail why amending New Jersey's law to extend marriage to same-sex couples is a necessity.  The New Jersey Supreme Court ruled that 'denying rights and benefits to committed same-sex couples violates the equal protection guarantee and can no longer be tolerated under our State constitution.'  Implementation of that ruling by the invention of a parallel status failed to deliver equality.  It was like planting a toothpick and hoping a tree would grow."