New Jersey Assemblyman Reed Gusciora, the state’s first openly gay legislator, has introduced a bill that will allow voters to approve same-sex marriage, reports the Star-Ledger. The bill has not been received well by Senate democrats and gay rights activists, who don’t think marriage equality should have to pass a ballot vote as it should really be a civil right, but Gusciora defended it strongly, saying it was a better option than no action at all.
New Jersey Assemblyman Reed Gusciora
“I am the last person who believes civil rights should be on the ballot,” he said. “But civil rights delayed is civil rights denied.” Apparently Gusciora was initially opposed to a referendum as well, but he said his constituents asked him to reconsider after last month’s victories in Maine, Maryland, Washington and Minnesota. “The timing is right,” Gusciora said. “There is broader acceptance.”
However, others are skeptical of the bill, saying that an upcoming governor election with Republican Chris Christie on the ticket means certain defeat for the referendum. Senator Raymond Lesniak has stood up against it, as has Senate Majority Leader Loretta Weinberg. Garden State Equality chairman Steven Goldstein has also gone on record voicing his dissent in light of “Chris Christie at the top of the ticket.” Christie himself opposes same-sex marriage, and in February, he vetoed legislation to legalize same-sex marriage, arguing that it should be decided by the people with a ballot vote. In this sense, Christie would agree with Gusciora’s proposed plan.
“This is exactly what the governor wants,” said Gusciora, when he introduced the bill. So now we wait and see what happens, and hope things turn out as they did in our victories this past election season.
Photo: wikipedia.org
