NJ Activists Ready For Battle Over Gay Marriage

[JackBeck]

VINELAND, N.J. (CBS) ― In a pew of the Chestnut Assembly of God on a Tuesday night, Pat Mannion decided that for the first time in her 58 years, she would get involved in politics. She would call lawmakers and tell neighbors about her cause: Keeping New Jersey from becoming the next state to recognize the marriages of gay couples.

Louise Walpin and Marsha Shapiro, who also never thought of themselves as activists, made a similar decision about two years ago. They have been talking with legislators about why they believe the state should recognize them as a married couple.

The women have joined the movements as the debate over gay unions in New Jersey goes from the philosophical to the practical, and from the courts to the Legislature.

(snip)

A bill that would allow gay marriage is expected to be debated in Trenton during the lame-duck period between the Nov. 3 election and start of a new legislative session in January.

More at: http://wcbstv.com/local/gay.marriage.activists.2.1139659.html

The http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/2008/Bills/S2000/1967_I1.HTM">bill has been stalled in the Judiciary committee for quite some time. But all of that's about to change. Looks like we'll have an answer by the end of the year. We've been putting pressure since January on both Democratic and Republican state Senators still on the fence with marriage equality. We have the votes we need in the Assembly, but we are about 3 Senators short.

If you live in NJ, or have friends or family that live here, please encourage them to contact their Senators to voice their support for marriage equality.

[Chipper Chat]

1. It's time for 'political' churches to lose their tax-exempt status.

It's really time.
Our local Assembly of Gawd Church had big Bush-Cheney signs in their yard in both 2000 and 2004.

[Deep13]

3. Definitely.

I'd go one step further and say that churches are not charities and, therefore, should not be entitled to property tax exemptions.

[JackBeck]

4. Especially the Mormon Church:

http://californiansagainsthate.com/

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/fred-karger/is-the-mormon-church-fund_b_230853.html

[Kerrytravelers]

2. So, Pat Mannion has nothing better to do than work to prevent the happiness between two consenting

adults, whose happiness in no way affects her own.

What a wonderful human being. :eyes:

[JackBeck]

5. So far, I haven't encountered any Pat Mannion's out in the field.

One guy huffed and walked away (and this was at an AIDS walk), while two ladies snickered after I had approached them.

But for the most part, I've mostly met very supportive people who end up always wishing us luck.

Some of the more interesting reactions have been from straight couples who disagree or have never talked to each other about where they stand.