By GEOFF MULVIHILL

(AP) New Jersey Supreme Court Chief Justice Deborah T. Poritz sits in the Hughes Justice Center in...

TRENTON, N.J. (AP) - New Jersey's Supreme Court opened the door to gay marriage Wednesday, ruling that homosexuals are entitled to the same rights as heterosexuals, but leaving it to lawmakers to legalize same-sex unions.

The high court gave lawmakers 180 days to rewrite marriage laws to either include same-sex couples or create a new system of civil unions for them.

The ruling is similar to the 1999 decision in Vermont that led to civil unions there, which offer the benefits of marriage, but not the name.

"Although we cannot find that a fundamental right to same-sex marriage exists in this state, the unequal dispensation of rights and benefits to committed same-sex partners can no longer be tolerated under our state Constitution," Justice Barry T. Albin wrote for the 4-3 majority's decision.


Outside the Supreme Court, news of the ruling caused confusion, with many of the roughly 100 gay marriage supporters outside asking each other what it meant. Many started to agree that they needed to push for a state constitutional amendment to institute gay marriage.

Garden State Equality, New Jersey's main gay and lesbian political organization quickly announced Wednesday that three lawmakers would introduce a bill in the Legislature to get full marriage rights to same-sex couples.

Gay couples in New Jersey can already apply for domestic partnerships under a law the Legislature passed in 2004 giving gay couples some benefits of marriage, such as the right to inherit possessions if there is no will and healthcare coverage for state workers.

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walk on the bright side of the road!

What's interesting in is that the news put out by the press made it appear that the Supreme (what a joke) Court legalized gay marriage.

I don't have a problem with Civil Unions but I do have a problem with Gay marriage.

I also have a problem with gay marriage. It appears that the gay lobby wants to redefine traditional marriage, which should stay as 1 man & 1 woman. It time to stop this assault on our culture and our religious beliefs. Look, what happened in New York, the Transit Authority will now permit men, who say they feel like a woman, to use the Women's Bathrooms in the train stations. Even I couldn't make this up.

Jim Stanberry

Religious beliefs seem to be the problem with some with gay marriages. Seems the same thing is happening all over the world with many wars. Believe my way or its a war. Sometimes just a war of words, sometimes a bloody battle. Fact is not too many follow the Bible

This is Land of the Free - to each their own to be happy. Right?

Maybe not...
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Ray the Bagpiper

www.pipesalot.com

Lets make a deal. The religious can keep the word "marriage" and the gays can keep and use the word "civil union"

Now if that works than the religious people back off about the gays having the right for a "civil union" and the gays back off protesting the religions for their view of "civil marriages"

If the religions feel they have the right or duty to force their religious beliefs and pressure the courts on civil union issues than may I also suggest the courts and people have the right to force their beliefs and wishes upon the church and other religions.

As some may have said or pointed out. Yes as the laws of this country were written years ago. Many naturally did follow some religious beliefs. After all who wants killing and thieves to be part of society. But it is equally true, if not more so, that they also wrote that separation of church and state as a must. For they also have seen how religious beliefs as well as state run religion can divide a country. If the churches feel they want the right to tell the states what to do then the state should charge (tax) the churches for that right, just as they tax is citizens. The church then also should have to recognize the laws of the state just as the state should be expected to recognize the view and laws of the church.

If a gay couple wants a civil union let them have it. The church does not have to recognize it as a marriage. it's that simple.