Washington, DC – Today,
National Stonewall Democrats and the New Jersey Stonewall Democrats are disappointed
that the marriage equality bill fell short in the New Jersey State Senate. With
Republican Chris Christie due to take office shortly, today’s effort was a last
attempt to secure equal rights and responsibilities for same-gender couples in
New Jersey, before a legislative win becomes impossible.
Statement from Barbra Casbar-Siperstein, President, New
Jersey Stonewall Democrats
“Despite the leadership of bill sponsors Democratic
Senator Loretta Weinberg and Democratic Senator Raymond Lesniak and the hard
work of grassroots activists including the members of the New Jersey Stonewall
Democrats, the bill failed with 14 yes votes and 20 no votes.
“Today’s
vote just prolongs the inequality felt by same-gender couples across New
Jersey, and underscores a stark truth: as the LGBT community continues to fight
for our equal rights, we need to pay attention to who we are electing to
office. The importance of electing pro-equality Democrats has never been
clearer.”
Statement from Michael Mitchell, Executive Director, National
Stonewall Democrats:
“When avowed
anti-equality Republican Chris Christie was elected Governor of New Jersey last
November, he pledged to veto any marriage equality bill that hit his desk. We
knew at that moment that the fight to secure marriage equality in New Jersey
was threatened, and unfortunately, today, that threat became a reality.
“Today’s
vote, like the earlier vote in the New York Senate, also reminds us we need to
be diligent about fighting homophobia in our own party. If certain Democrats
don’t stand for us, we must not stand for them.”
Press Contact:
Jenna
Lowenstein
Director
of Communications
National
Stonewall Democrats
jlowenstein@stonewalldemocrats.org
202-625-1382
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