The Warrior Review
Gay Marriage in New Jersey: On the FenceWednesday, April 04, 2012 By Danielle Brochu
The legalization of gay marriage has been debated quite often in recent years. When Massachusetts became the first state to make gay nuptials legal in 2004, other states soon followed, causing a storm of controversy within legislatures. There are currently 6 states that allow gay marriages, and 6 other states that allow domestic partnerships or civil unions. Around the United States, the issue is still a hot topic among legislatures as well as society in general. On Thursday, February 16th, New Jersey lawmakers cast a 42-33 vote in favor of legalizing gay marriage. The very next day, Governor Chris Christie vetoed the bill. The state Assembly now has until January 2013 to override the veto by a 2/3 vote. Members of the Wamogo Diversity Club offerred their insight on the issue and agreed to take a poll to see who supported gay marriage. It was a unanimous choice, with every member voting in favor. “They should be able to so they can get the same government benefits as other couples. It will really help break stereotypes too” says junior Steven Woodruff. Recent studies show that support for gay marriage among the general population is growing slowly but steadily each year. Some wonder how the passage of this law will affect the economy. (For example, the money used on weddings, venues, etc.) “It’s not really going to affect the economy” said junior Ishmael Haimeral. In addition to this, several studies have shown that gay couples have a lower divorce rate than heterosexual couples. This could be because there are far less married gay couples in the world, or it could be because they’re simply happier. “They value the privilege of their relationship more” said English teacher Linda Bickford. People continue to debate this issue and how it could affect American society. Some hope the laws remain unchanged, while others continue to advocate for equal marriage rights for all. But for now, citizens of New Jersey will have to wait another year to see if the governor’s veto is overridden. |