NEW YORK (1010 WINS) — Same-sex marriage gains protection in New Jersey as Gov. Phil Murphy signs a bill codifying marriage equality into state law on Monday.
Though same-sex marriage has been recognized by the state of New Jersey for nearly a decade now and on a federal level since 2015, this new law safeguards the right for gay couples to wed in the event that the Supreme Court cases are overturned.
“Despite the progress we have made as a country, there is still much work to be done to protect the LGBTQ+ community from intolerance and injustice. New Jersey is stronger and fairer when every member of our LGBTQ+ family is valued and given equal protection under the law,” Murphy said in a statement.
The primary sponsors of the bill include Senators Steve Sweeney, Loretta Weinberg, and Vin Gopal, and Assemblymembers Valerie Vainieri Huttle, Mila M. Jasey, Annette Quijano, Andrew Zwicker, and Joann Downey.
“Basic equal rights should not be denied to any class of citizen, regardless of gender identity or sexual orientation,” said Gopal. “The law must protect all civil rights and continue to honor the union between two people who love each other. We need to make these rights more secure by writing them into law.”
Senate Majority Leader Loretta Weinberg, who recently announced she is resigning from her position, received praise for her role in pushing this bill through from Steven Goldstein, founder of Garden State Equality.
“How the world has changed since last time the legislature passed marriage equality in 2012. This time we have a Governor who is a champion of civil and human rights second to none,” said Goldstein. “I am also thrilled this new statue marks the final law steered to passage by our equality legend Senator Loretta Weinberg. What a fitting, crowning legacy.”
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