09/27/2007
New Jersey Civil Union Couples: It's Not Enough
The New Jersey Civil Union Commission held the first of three public hearings last night at the New Jersey Law Center designed to assess the effectiveness of the state's civil union laws. It was attended by approximately 120 people, the Asbury Park Press reports:
"David Smith, Garden State Equality's deputy director, said the organization has received 304 complaints about unequal treatment under the state's civil union laws — he called that 'an astonishing rate of failure'...'Employers don't respect civil unions like they respect marriage in the real world,' Smith told the review commission."
The couples present mostly reiterated Smith's perspective.
"Craig Ross, of Somerset, said his employer refused to give health coverage to his partner, Richard Cash, after the two formed a civil union in April. They were one of several couples who described how business have cited federal laws that refer to 'marriage' or 'spouses' in order to deny health coverage to gay and lesbian employees who have tried to obtain benefits for their partners under New Jersey's civil union law. 'They're looking at it as a ceremony, not even a relationship or a legal status,' Ross said. 'It's just words.'"
Otheres cited linguistic issues: "Tom Walton, of East Brunswick, said the difference in name — civil unions versus marriage — sends a message that gay couples are inferior. 'Having to explain it automatically devalues it,' Walton said. 'Even if it gives us the same rights marriage, it doesn't give us the respect.' Walton works at UPS, which sparked one of the first disputes over civil unions when it denied same sex couples health benefits, citing federal rules. The company relented after Corzine wrote to intervene."
Gay marriage foe Len Deo, president of the New Jersey Family Policy Council, claims that the commission was created "to turn civil unions to full-fledged marriage."
Or at least to make it plainly obvious why they should be.
Gay, lesbian couples say civil union law doesn't go far enough [asbury park press]
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The East Brunswick NJ man said the difference in name 9civil unions vs marriage) sends a message that gay couples are inferior.
I do not think gay couples are inferior. I would decribe them as different (ironically, noted as the word the E Brunswick man used in his comment).
I think we can all agree on that.
Gay couples have a right to seek a lawsuit against those companies, agencies, etc. that don't uphold the civil union law within the state. Having not seen the entire law, perhaps too, the NJ legislature needs to refine and strengthen it.
Posted by: Cramps | Sep 27, 2007 1:03:44 PM
I just got "Unioned" in NJ on Sept. 5th. I used to think that was enough, but the UPS and other incidents show that we can not go the "separate but equal" route. It did not work before and it will not now. It is the bigots' last stand. Although I live in Texas and it does not make a big difference to me now because Texas will probably be the last state to extend equal rights to the LGBT community.
That's why I'm looking for jobs up north.
Posted by: Gryphoncub | Sep 27, 2007 1:03:49 PM
"Separate but Equal" laws have always been unequal. People who claim civil unions are the same as marriage are trying to feed us a big bunch of bullshit.
Posted by: db | Sep 27, 2007 1:06:48 PM
This could be a failure of the state's implementation. You can't expect all businesses to implement things overnight. Keep pushing forward.
I personally think there should be no government "marriage" for any couples. It should all be a "civil union" because government only cares about keeping tables of couples for inheritance and divorce.
"Marriage" is done in your choice of religion as reflected in people always going on about the "sanctity" of marriage.
What the hell does the secular government have to do with sanctification in a country of freedom of religion?
Posted by: queendru | Sep 28, 2007 3:16:46 AM
What are the chances that our dear friend STEPHEN is back under a new screen name and IP address?
What are the chances?
Posted by: Zeke | Sep 28, 2007 3:35:50 PM