No marriage equality in NJ, at least not yet.

Over the years the definition of marriage has changed. I as a woman no longer the property of my husband. And I can get a divorce. Marriage has changed, we as a society change and evolve as time goes on. We must it’s called progress. Anti-miscegenation laws were laws that used to ban interracial marriages. These laws were in place, and these laws showed that marriage was defined as one a couple of the same race. Some people claimed it was a sin and it was immoral, and against what God wanted. That doesn’t mean it was right. But Loving Vs Virginia fought for that right, that people though was wrong, immoral, and a threat to society.
Granting Same Sex couples equality, will not be a threat to anyone’s relationship. We are America, we are about civil liberties, and about equal rights. Our constitution says everyone must be treated equally and allowed the same rights and privileges. The marriage equality act provided the religious freedoms to allows churches to opt out of allowing same sex couples to marry. When women were allowed to vote, that was a threat, when blacks were given all the same equalities white had, that was a threat.
During the Senate Session on Thursday Senator Gill gave one of the most beautiful and eloquent cases for Marriage Equality, she said “just because this is not a racial injustice does not mean that it is not a civil rights injustice"
Senator S. Kean on the other hand gave one of the most disgusting speeches of the day and probablly will be remembered as one of the most disgusting of the fight. Listen here and see for yourself. He said a number of things “The fact of the matter is they deserve to have rights, they deserve to have things that the rest of us as Americans have"; he gushed about how he has one of the “gayest” districts in the state, and “they” bring up property values. Then voted no. Sean Kean was truly a hypocrite. His speech was disgusting, and patronizing. Sean Kean, I live in District 11, your district, and I'm not voting for you. You just lost a vote, I'm sure I'm not the only one. Hypocrite, and coward....
Senator Loretta Weinberg also spoke.
Senator Sweeney, who is slated to be Senate President couldn’t decide so he didn’t vote and abstained. He is supposed to lead the Senate soon, and he abstained. Nervous yet? I know I am. He's going to be in charge and he can't form an opinion.
The opposition cried this should be let to the people and voted on in referendum. Why? Because it’s always best to have the already comfy majority make laws that deal with the minority and not them. I've seen them say it's such a small percent of the population of NJ, that has problems with civil unions. By their statistics less than 1% of NJ population. Even so, if you can fix that with no harm and change to yourself, why woulnd't you want to better the life of fellow citizens. The women lost rights to vote when it was in referendum in the states, and the blacks didn’t do much better when left up to referendum. Why do we have elected officials if they aren’t there to vote for us, why don’t vote in referendum on every bill and act then?

The opposition held signs about God, and Religion. America is not a theocracy. I do not want America to turn into one. Those against it, are always the same ones first to say "I want the government out of my personal life!" "I don't want a nanny state!" But they are first in line if they feel the nanny will make everyone like them, and patrol the morality. Turning this country into a Theocracy is dangerous, Iran and Saudi Arbia are both ones. I don't know about you, but I'd feel better living next to people doing things I may not agree with than being forced to live as them. I feel my rights are being threatened allowing a group ro pressure using religion, what is to stop other religious groups to either take away or prevent me from freedoms because it’s immoral and sinful to them. They cry it’s an abomination; but they’ve turned it into a religious/moral issue. What if a certain community said finding Kosher food is a pain, so is eating out at restaurants. You know what else is to, pork. Pork is bad. Lets make pork illegal, and lets make every restaurant have to sell and prepare only Kosher foods. You bet your ass this vegetarian would be out there protesting for the right to eat pork. This frightens me NJ Senators.
This frightens me a great deal.
The opposition held signs with phrases such as the purpose of marriage can’t happen with two people of the same gender. Insinuating childbirth I can only gather. I guess then that infertile couples, old couples, and couples that chose not have children can’t get married as well. They had signs about Children deserve both a mother and a father. Homosexual couples already raise children, and do a wonderful job of it. I’m sorry NJ, was I not aware of it being illegal to be a single parent? Is there some sort of lobby to snatch kids out single parent homes I wasn’t aware of? Marriage like I said in my last blog isn't always a union that is religious, otherwise all non believers wouldn't get married. It's unnatural they say. So is food coloring, artificial flavors, and a host of other things.
Civil unions aren’t working. Nothing we can do on a state level will fix that ERISA is set it to trump state law.. Senator Gill pointed that out. It will only be a waste of tax payer money to create committees to fail in this. Federal insurance policies state “husband or wife” not “Civil Partner”. Separate but equal can’t be equal. It's textbook discrimination. It never has been that way in American history. I’m very disappointed in NJ. I have the right to marry, as I’m heterosexual. I had nothing to gain by this bill passing other than the knowledge that I didn‘t sit by and let a fellow citizen be pushed down and turned into a sub-class citizen. It's a civil right and equality issue, it has nothing to do with a threat to a religion. This isn‘t a fight just for the LGBT community. It should be a fight for everyone and anyone, who cares about equality. “That the desires of the majority of the people are often for injustice and inhumanity against the minority is demonstrated by every page of history of the whole world” John Addams once said. I’m saddened NJ couldn’t start a new page. I'm saddened that NJ couldn't make History in the new year by doing the right thing. I'm saddened by the hurt, and pain, and further injustice I will see of my fellow citizens.

You can watch Video clips here. (wait they are in the back of the bus? And their civil liberties are threatened?) To watch people celebrate and say it feels great as you push down others makes me sick to my stomach. Please take the time to watch the clip. they say they are being forced to the back of the bus, and are worried about civil liberties, and can't practice their civil rights? Stunned and shocked. I'm horrified at the woman who shouts "Hallelujah!", I'm further horrified at her husband who smiled and compared this to "winning a wrestling match". What did you win? Did you win the pain, heartbreak, and suffering at others because they don't share your opinion? If you want to call them less than human, you treat them less than human. Thats whats happening.
There are a good collection of clips here and photos. Please take the time to view the photos. I'm not sure how anyone with good conscience can look at the photos of the pain, and tears and think they've done the right thing.
I know it will happen in my lifetime, I just hope sooner than later.

Edit to add:
I just found this page that suggests when you call to ask them not support the bill to use "Government should never endorse sin" as a reason.
America the Theocracy here we come!