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NJ Take Action - Marriage Equality

New Jersey must take action by before January 19th!

The Senate Judiciary Committee in New Jersey narrowly passed a bill on Wednesday, December 7th that would legalize same-sex marriage, but legislators delayed a scheduled full Senate vote.

The Senate Judiciary Committee voted 7-6 to approve the "Freedom of Religion and Equality in Civil Marriage Act". The legislation was expected to go to the full Senate on Thursday the 8th, but late Wednesday night, Sen. Loretta Weinberg (D), the prime sponsor of the bill, announced it had been taken off the agenda. She claimed that the hearing had generated so much public interest that she wanted residents to be able to participate in another hearing in the Assembly before votes are cast.

There are 23 Democrats and 17 Republicans in the Senate, and the bill needs 21 votes to pass. If the bill passes, it would also need approval in the Assembly, where it has not yet been scheduled for a vote in the Judiciary Committee

Both chambers of the legislature must approve the bill and send it to the desk of outgoing Gov. Jon Corzine (D) by Jan. 19, his last day in office, to get his promised signature. Chris Christie, an opponent of marriage equality has said he will not sign it.

What You Can Do

Call your New Jersey Senator(s) and Assembly Representative(s) and tell them how important this issue is to you and all of New Jersey.

Clink on the link www.njleg.state.nj.us. On the left-hand side under Members click Find Your Legislator. On the right-hand side under Members click Legislative District. Locate your district and you can retrieve phone numbers for each of their legislative offices.

Use the talking points below or put it in your own words:

• As your constituent I am counting on you to vote in favor of the Freedom of Religion and Equality in Civil Marriage Act in New Jersey and get to Governor Corzine's desk before January 19th!

• Civil/legal marriage carries with it significant access to institutional support, rights and benefits. To bar same-sex couples from those rights and benefits undermines the civil liberties of gay and lesbian couples, putting them and their families at risk.

• This unequal treatment causes concrete and devastating harm. It most deeply affects those with children, those with fewer financial resources, people of color, senior citizens or those with less access to education.