[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BlogPosting","@id":"https:\/\/equallywed.com\/new-jersey-lawmakers-introduce-marriage-equality-legislation\/#BlogPosting","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/equallywed.com\/new-jersey-lawmakers-introduce-marriage-equality-legislation\/","headline":"New Jersey Lawmakers Introduce Marriage Equality Legislation","name":"New Jersey Lawmakers Introduce Marriage Equality Legislation","description":"By Brittny DryeNew Jersey lawmakers introduced the highly anticipated “Freedom to Marry” bill yesterday. A former foe of the legislation, Sen. Steve Sweeney, who voted...","datePublished":"2012-01-11","dateModified":"2021-06-25","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/equallywed.com\/author\/admin\/#Person","name":"Equally Wed","url":"https:\/\/equallywed.com\/author\/admin\/","identifier":787,"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/ca62cf123aaaf135c80b055249bacbda79de9226e11cdfcde6529bedf89683de?s=96&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/ca62cf123aaaf135c80b055249bacbda79de9226e11cdfcde6529bedf89683de?s=96&r=g","height":96,"width":96}},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Equally Wed","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"http:\/\/equallywed.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/equally-wed-lgbtq-weddings-logo.jpg","url":"http:\/\/equallywed.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/equally-wed-lgbtq-weddings-logo.jpg","width":218,"height":60}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/equallywed.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/senator-steve-sweeney-freedom-to-marry-bill-new-jersey.jpg","url":"https:\/\/equallywed.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/senator-steve-sweeney-freedom-to-marry-bill-new-jersey.jpg","height":220,"width":151},"url":"https:\/\/equallywed.com\/new-jersey-lawmakers-introduce-marriage-equality-legislation\/","about":["Marriage Equality News"],"wordCount":240,"articleBody":" By Brittny DryeNew Jersey lawmakers introduced the highly anticipated “Freedom to Marry” bill yesterday. A former foe of the legislation, Sen. Steve Sweeney, who voted against the marriage equality bill when it was up for vote last, introduced the bill to the Senate. Sweeney said that the bill will go to key legislative committees “immediately,” putting it on the fast-track to passage, the Star-Ledger reports. New Jersey Sen. Steve Sweeney\u201cThis is about doing what\u2019s right and ensuring full equal and civil  rights for all New Jerseyans,\u201d said Sweeney. \u201cTwo years ago, I made a  mistake in abstaining on marriage equality\u2014a mistake that means  same-sex couples continue to be denied the very basic civil right to  live their lives as they wish. But today isn\u2019t about me correcting my  mistake, it\u2019s about correcting a mistake for thousands of loving couples  across the state who want nothing more than to be treated equally as  their neighbors.\u201dShould this measure pass both houses, the leadership acknowledged that  it is unclear whether the legislature would be able to muster the  two-thirds majority required to override a veto from Gov. Chris Christie, who is a long-standing opponent of marriage equality. Senator Sweeney told reporters; \u201cIf the governor cannot raise himself by  signing a law to ensure a basic civil right for all residents, we would  hope that he would not lower himself by vetoing it.”Photo: njleg.state.nj.us"},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"New Jersey Lawmakers Introduce Marriage Equality Legislation","item":"https:\/\/equallywed.com\/new-jersey-lawmakers-introduce-marriage-equality-legislation\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]