[News-releases] NOW Applauds New Jersey Ruling on Equal Marriage

	For Immediate Release Contact: Lisa Bennett, 202-628-8669, ext. 123; cell 202-641-1906
NOW Applauds New Jersey Ruling on Equal Marriage October 25, 2006 "Today same-sex couples moved one step closer to the dream of full marriage equality in the United States," said National Organization for Women (NOW) President Kim Gandy. "The New Jersey Supreme Court confirmed that same-sex couples deserve the same rights, benefits and responsibilities granted to opposite-sex couples through marriage." In its decision based on the N.J. state constitution, the court said: "Denying committed same-sex couples the financial and social benefits and privileges given to their married heterosexual counterparts bears no substantial relationship to a legitimate governmental purpose." Opposite-sex married couples are afforded over 1,000 legal protections and benefits in state and federal law which are inaccessible to committed same-sex couples. Benefits of civil marriage include: the recognition of all families; access to health care and medical decision-making for partners and their children; parenting rights; Social Security; joint taxation, inheritance and other government benefits; as well as the simple ability to pool resources to buy or transfer property without adverse tax treatment. Ultimately, the court left it to the state legislature to determine within 180 days what term -- marriage, civil union or some other designation -- will be applied to the union of same-sex couples. "We regret that the court did not take the final step by ordering that the term 'marriage' be applied across the board to all couples," said Gandy. "No other word has the same power as 'marriage' and no other status can provide the full complement of state and federal protections that opposite-sex couples enjoy without question." NOW is urging activists in New Jersey to lobby their state legislators to extend the designation of "marriage" to same-sex couples. "Committed couples across the country are counting on New Jersey to set an example, as Massachusetts did, by recognizing the validity and dignity of their families."

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