Five moderate Republican state senators who have been under pressure to support gay marriage said yesterday that they would not vote for a bill allowing same-sex couples to wed in New Jersey. Instead, they favor strengthening and enforcing the state’s civil-union law, which they said gives gay and lesbian couples the benefits of marriage without the title.
Advocates for same-sex marriage say civil unions confer a status that is separate and not equal. Opponents say the Legislature should not alter the traditional definition of marriage.
“I really appreciate their recognition that civil unions are not working and do not provide equal protection under the law,” said Sen. Raymond Lesniak (D., Union), a cosponsor of the gay marriage bill. “I think we can convince these well-intentioned senators that separate can never be equal.”
Full Story from Philly.com: http://www.philly.com/philly/news/local/79707947.html
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