On October 25, 2006, New Jersey lawmakers were given 180 days to draft a bill that would give same-sex couples equal rights of marriage (read more). The mandate from the State Supreme Court was clear, but lawmakers were challenged with what to actually call the new gay unions- marriage or an equivalent term with the same rights.
Less than 60 days after the landmark ruling, the New Jersey legislature approved a bill that will create civil unions for same-sex couples. Democratic Gov. Jon Corzine signed the bill into law. This move made New Jersey the third state to offer civil unions behind Vermont and Connecticut. Massachusetts is the only U.S. state that grants full marriage and California allows registered domestic partnerships.
Are civil unions enough?
NJ lawmakers were instructed by the court to grant same-sex couples the same, not lesser, rights of marriage. However, the court ruling left the naming of such unions up to lawmaker discretion. The legislation chose to call them civil unions with the same rights and benefits of marriage, including adoption rights, hospital visitation rights and inheritance rights.
According to an AP report some gay rights groups are concerned that calling gay unions anything but "marriage" creates a different, and inferior, institution. However, those same groups welcome the push forward.
When does the law go into affect?
The New Jersey same-sex civil unions bill took effect February 19, 2007. New Jersey couples can begin planning their civil union ceremony.
Less than 60 days after the landmark ruling, the New Jersey legislature approved a bill that will create civil unions for same-sex couples. Democratic Gov. Jon Corzine signed the bill into law. This move made New Jersey the third state to offer civil unions behind Vermont and Connecticut. Massachusetts is the only U.S. state that grants full marriage and California allows registered domestic partnerships.
Are civil unions enough?
NJ lawmakers were instructed by the court to grant same-sex couples the same, not lesser, rights of marriage. However, the court ruling left the naming of such unions up to lawmaker discretion. The legislation chose to call them civil unions with the same rights and benefits of marriage, including adoption rights, hospital visitation rights and inheritance rights.
According to an AP report some gay rights groups are concerned that calling gay unions anything but "marriage" creates a different, and inferior, institution. However, those same groups welcome the push forward.
When does the law go into affect?
The New Jersey same-sex civil unions bill took effect February 19, 2007. New Jersey couples can begin planning their civil union ceremony.