Gay marriage: N.J. Assembly approves measure, Christie vows veto

New Jersey lawmakers passed legislation Thursday to recognize gay marriage, making the state the eighth to do so and setting the stage for Gov. Chris Christie to veto the measure.

The 42-33 vote in the Democratic-controlled Assembly followed the Senate's approval Monday and came after emotional speeches from both sides.

One lawmaker, Democrat Cleopatra Tucker, said that as a deaconess in her church, she had "struggled over this. ...I really had problems and struggled with this."

But she said she had decided to support the Marriage Equality and Religious Exemption Act. "This bill today is not a religious issue. It's a civil rights issue," she said.

In the visitors gallery overlooking the floor, rival groups either gave standing ovations to speakers or sat in stony silence, depending on their leanings.

Republican Nancy Munoz said she had decided to vote against the measure after comments from her constituents convinced her that they opposed the measure. She said voters should get to make the final decision in a ballot referendum. "I trust the people of New Jersey and I say they should be allowed to voice their opinion," she said as opponents of the act, dressed uniformly in bright red, burst into whoops and applause.

The reaction drew an angry lecture from the Assembly speaker, who threatened to have security evict the next person who violated his demands to stay quiet.

The bill now goes to Christie, presumably to be vetoed. Lawmakers have until the end of the legislative session in January 2014 to muster enough votes to override a veto. In the meantime, Christie has said he'll back a referendum that would let voters decide the issue.

Seven states and the District of Columbia recognize same-sex marriage, and a gay-marriage bill in Maryland advanced to the House of Delegates floor Tuesday, with a vote expected Friday. Gov. Martin O’Malley supports the law, but it is unclear whether it will get the 71 votes it needs to pass. The bill has support from both parties, but the issue has divided state lawmakers along religious and racial lines, with some Christians and blacks opposing the measure.

A similar measure passed in the state Senate last year, but failed to clear the house. Opponents of the bill have announced plans to hold a referendum in November if it passes.

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-- Tina Susman in Trenton, N.J., and Ian Duncan in Washington

Photo: Supporters show their appreciation after the New Jersey State Legislature passes the gay marriage bill in Trenton, N.J. Credit: Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times

New Jersey expected to approve gay marriage; Christie vows veto

 
New Jersey lawmakers are expected to pass legislation Thursday that would legalize same-sex marriage, but Gov. Chris Christie's vow to veto the measure could force a drawn-out battle similar to those that have roiled California and other states that have recognized gay unions.

The state Senate approved the proposed Marriage Equality and Religious Exemption Act on Monday. The measure was likely to pass in the Democratic-controlled Assembly during Thursday afternoon's session.

A Rutgers-Eagleton poll released Tuesday indicated that a majority of New Jersey voters support the right of same-sex couples to marry. Christie, a Republican who has been mentioned as a possible future presidential contender, opposes same-sex marriage and has said that if New Jersey is to become the latest state to recognize such unions, voters -- not politicians -- should decide the issue. He has said he'll veto the bill if it comes to him and back a November referendum on the matter.

Despite the veto vow, Steven Goldstein of Garden State Equality told the Star-Ledger newspaper that the state was on a clear path toward guaranteeing same-sex marriage, and he noted that advocates of the measure had until the end of the legislative session -- in January 2014 -- to muster enough votes to override Christie's veto.

"Look how the world has changed since Jan. 7, 2010," Goldstein said, referring to the last time lawmakers took up same-sex marriage. Then, the Senate voted down the act with 14 "yes" votes and 20 "no" votes. On Monday, it voted 24-16 in favor of same-sex marriage.

"We're talking about at least a 50% increase in support" since 2010, said Goldstein, adding that activists' next goal was to build Republican support to override Christie's veto.

One Republican who joined Democrats in voting for the legislation earlier this week was Sen. Diane B. Allen. "I look at this as just another venue where discrimination has occurred and where we must right a wrong," she said after the vote.

But Sen. Christopher Bateman, also a Republican, said he supported Christie's call for a referendum. "An issue of this importance, I think really should be decided by all the voters," he said.

Washington became the seventh state in the nation to recognize same-sex marriage when the governor signed a bill into law Monday, but conservatives have said they will collect signatures to put a referendum on the ballot to overrule the decision. Opponents of gay marriage in California put the brakes on same-sex unions with a ballot measure, but an appellate court last week threw out that proposition.

Other states that have approved same-sex marriage include New York, Connecticut, Iowa, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Vermont, as well as the District of Columbia.

-- Tina Susman in New York

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Photo: Members of Garden State Equality watch as the New Jersey Senate on Monday approved a marriage equality measure. Credit: David Gard / Associated Press

Empire State Building throws same-sex weddings on Valentine's Day

The Empire State Building and its sweeping New York City views offered enviable backdrops to two couples who made history this Valentine's Day -- becoming the first same-sex couples to marry atop the landmark.

All weddings are special, of course, and a wedding on Valentine's Day is especially sweet. But only Stephanie Figarelle, 29, and Lela McArthur, 24, two personal trainers from Anchorage, Alaska, can say that they were the first-ever same-sex couple married at the Empire State Building.

They were followed by three other couples, including another same-sex couple, all of whom were  winners of an online contest that played out on Facebook, with fans voting on planning details. Winners had their dream events designed by celebrity event planner Colin Cowie, who makes regular appearances on "The Today Show" and "The Ellen Degeneres Show."

The four couples received wedding rings from DeBeers, gowns from Kleinfeld, hair and makeup by Estee Lauder, a two-night stay at a posh Manhattan hotel, the services of a celebrity photographer and, as the commercials say, that's not all! Each couple has the chance to win $100,000 if they get the most Facebook votes following the nuptials, according to Huffington Post Weddings.

The ceremonies took place in an events area on the 61st floor, and were followed by a photo shoot on the observation deck that looks out on Manhattan's famed skyline from the 86th floor.

"I cannot wait to spend the rest of my life with you,” Figarelle said to her partner as they exchanged rings, reported the Associated Press. "I will always love you forever, with every beat of my heart,"  McArthur, who is taking her partner's name, was quoted as saying.

Figarelle, who wore a black tuxedo to McArthur's strapless white gown, wanted to travel to New York to get married in part because of all the goodies, but also because same-sex marriage became legal in the Empire State last year. The pair hope Alaska will one day follow suit.

Later, New Yorkers Phil Fung and Shawn Klein became the second same-sex couple to take the plunge. They wore matching suits and ties, according to the wire service. Two other couples also tied the knot in Valentine's Day ceremonies atop the landmark: Angela Vega and Lubin Masibay of San Francisco and Paula Cubero and Enrique Catter of Greenwich, Conn.

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Twitter / renelynch

Photo: Lela McArthur, left, and Stephanie Figarelle, of Anchorage walk down the aisle after their Valentine's Day wedding ceremony at the Empire State Building. Credit: Richard Drew/Associated Press

Gay marriage poll: Most in New Jersey support it, but want vote

Most voters in New Jersey support gay marriage, but a majority also say the issue should be put on the ballot for voters to make the final decision, a new poll finds. The poll was released as New Jersey lawmakers prepare to vote Thursday on a bill that would make the state the eighth in the nation to recognize same-sex unions.

The Rutgers-Eagleton poll, released Tuesday, surveyed 914 registered voters and found that 54% of them support gay marriage, which New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie opposes. Thirty-five percent oppose gay marriage, the poll found.

At the same time, 53% support Christie's call for voters to decide on gay marriage in a November referendum. Critics of such a vote say that would be akin to letting voters decide on crucial civil rights matters.

Pollster David Redlawsk, a political science professor at Rutgers University, said it was "surprising" that the poll indicated majority support both for gay marriage and for the voters to decide on the question. "It may be that given several polls showing majority support among voters, supporters of same-sex marriage think it would win in November. But in the face of a likely intensive campaign from opponents, this could be wishful thinking," he said in a statement accompanying the poll results.

The survey was released a day after New Jersey's state Senate, by a vote of 24 to 16, approved a bill that would legalize same-sex marriage, and as Washington state became the seventh to legalize same-sex marriage at a bill-signing ceremony. Conservatives and religious leaders there have vowed to collect signatures to give voters the chance to overturn the bill in a referendum.

In New Jersey, lawmakers in the Assembly are expected to vote on the gay marriage bill Thursday in the state capital, Trenton, but Christie has vowed to veto the bill if it passes and to let voters decide on it.

Despite the California appellate court decision last week that struck down just such a referendum -- Proposition 8, which had limited marriage to a union between a man and a woman -- other states are pursuing the referendum route in hopes of blocking lawmakers from making gay marriage legal. Referendums in Minnesota and North Carolina would limit the definition of marriage to male-female unions.

In Maine, meanwhile, supporters of gay marriage are planning a ballot measure that would expand the definition of marriage to a union involving same-sex couples. This came in response to a 2009 referendum approved by voters that limited marriage's definition to include male-female unions only -- a referendum that overturned lawmakers' earlier approval of gay marriage.

New York, Connecticut, Iowa, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont, Washington and the District of Columbia are the only places in the United States so far where same-sex couples' marriages are legally recognized.

-- Tina Susman in New York

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Photo: Spectators applaud as New Jersey's Senate on Monday approves a bill by a vote of 24-16 recognizing same-sex marriage. The Assembly takes up the measure Thursday, but Gov. Chris Christie has vows a veto. Credit: David Gard/Associated Press

Washington state makes 7: Governor signs gay marriage law

"My friends, welcome to the other side of the rainbow!" state Sen. Ed Murray declared Monday as Washington became the seventh state in the nation to legalize same-sex marriage.

In a boisterous ceremony at the state Capitol in Olympia, Gov. Christine Gregoire -- a Catholic who weathered strong opposition, including a last-minute "action alert" from the state's Catholic Church leadership -- signed legislation to give same-sex couples the same right to a marriage license as anyone else.

"Look into your hearts and ask yourselves: 'Isn't it time?' " said Gregoire, as cheering supporters chanted "Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!"

"We did what was just. We did what was fair. We stood for equality, and we did it together, Republicans and Democrats, gay and straight, young and old, and a number of our faith organizations. I'm proud of who and what we are as a state," the governor said.

MAP: Gay rights timeline

There was a decidedly festive mood at the statehouse, where the debate in the state Legislature -- which approved the bill on split votes in both houses -- had been measured, lacking the name-calling and fireworks that often characterizes the issue.

The legislation exempts churches, religious institutions and members of the clergy from participating in same-sex marriages if it goes against their beliefs -- a compromise aimed at hundreds of churches whose members phoned and emailed lawmakers in an attempt to defeat the bill. Several faith organizations signed on in support of the measure, however, Gregoire noted.

"Years from now, our kids will look back and wonder what all the fuss was about, but those of us who lived through the last 20 years appreciate how challenging this has been," said state Sen. Jamie Pedersen, who sponsored the bill through its contentious charge through the Legislature. On Monday, he introduced onlookers to his "future husband," a former high school administrator who stood on the sidelines cradling one of the couple's four children.

The issue is far from over, however. Conservative and religious leaders have vowed to begin collecting signatures on a referendum to overturn the new law. The statute, slated to take effect on June 7, would be held in abeyance if referendum proponents succeed in placing it on the November ballot.

"Much hangs in the balance over the next few months. This is a time for people of faith to work together," Gary Randall, president of the Faith & Freedom Network, said in an appeal to supporters. He added in another statement: "This is a dark day for people of faith and those who honor natural, traditional marriage. It is a tipping point for the state."

Gay marriage foes vow to take Washington measure to voters

Washington Gov. Chris Gregoire is expected to announce Thursday when she will sign a measure to legalize same-sex marriage in the state. Meantime, foes of the concept were making plans to try to overturn it at the ballot box. 

The state House passed the bill Wednesday, 55 to 43, and the state Senate passed it last week, 28 to 21.

Gregoire, who has made no secret of her support for the legislation, is expected to sign it sometime next week. She watched the House vote from the wings with the bill's sponsor, Sen. Ed Murray, the Associated Press reported. 

In a statement afterward, the governor called the vote "a major step toward completing a long and important journey to end discrimination based on sexual orientation."

Two Republicans crossed party lines to support the bill.

One of them, Rep. Maureen Walsh, said during debate: "Someone made the comment that this is not about equality. Well, yes it is about equality.

"My daughter came out of the closet a couple of years ago. I thought I would agonize about that," the Seattle Times quoted Walsh as saying. "But nothing is different. She's still a fabulous human being and she's met a person that she loves very much and someday, by God, I want to throw a wedding for that kid. I hope that's what I can do." 

Three Democrats voted against the legislation, which will make the state the seventh to permit same-sex marriage. It is already legal in six states -- New York, Connecticut, Iowa, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Vermont -- and the District of Columbia.

But even before the Legislature had voted, opponents were making plans to overturn the measure at the ballot box. They have until June 6 to submit at least 120,577 signatures to put a referendum on the November ballot. If they succeed, the law would not take effect pending results of the vote. A simple majority would decide whether to retain the law, the Seattle Times reported.

If foes fail to gather enough signatures, same-sex couples could begin to wed in June. 

Stephen Pidgeon, a lawyer from Everett, Wash., is one of the leaders of the opposition. He reportedly is planning a parallel effort to define marriage as between a man and a woman, which would need to gather about double the number of signatures -- 241,153 -- by July 6 to put it on the ballot. The other potential ballot measure would repeal a law, which requires fewer signatures.

"We have a tremendous amount of enthusiasm about the initiative," Pidgeon told Reuters last week. "People are gearing up, and we're going to move ahead strongly, and I believe quickly. We already have hundreds of churches that have already pledged thousands of signatures."

The National Organization for Marriage was also expected to join the effort to overturn the measure. On its website Wednesday night, the group posted a news alert: 

"BREAKING NEWS: WA State House Passes SSM 55-43. Get Ready for a Referendum" 

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Photo: Gov. Chris Gregoire, left, embraces state Rep. Jamie Pedersen after the House voted to legalize same-sex marriage in Washington state Wednesday. Gregoire is expected to sign the bill next week. Credit: Elaine Thompson / Associated Press

Gay marriage: Prop. 8 ruling cheered, but U.S. impact not clear

The appeals court ruling that struck down California's Proposition 8 was being hailed Wednesday as a victory not only for gays and lesbians in this state, but for those in other states as well, with some activists saying it could fuel the fight for same-sex marriages.

"The outcome certainly helps buoy efforts all over the country," said Brian Moulton, legal director for the Human Rights Campaign, a gay rights advocacy group based in Washington, D.C. 

The voter-approved Proposition 8 limited marriage to the union of one man and one woman, and Moulton said that the decision by a panel of the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals to strike it down was a "big victor, but one that’s part of a larger set of big steps" to come.  

Other gay and lesbian activists, however, said the decision was so narrowly worded that any momentum would be largely symbolic.

Statehouses in New Jersey, Maryland and Washington are working on legislation that would allow same-sex couples to marry. Meanwhile, both supporters and opponents of same-sex unions are appealing directly to voters. Referendums in Minnesota and North Carolina would limit the definition of marriage to the union of one man and one woman, and a measure being considered for the Maine ballot would broaden the definition of marriage to include same-sex couples.

Washington is the closest to approving gay marriage -- both houses of the Legislature have passed such a measure -- and the governor has indicated that she will sign the bill when it lands on her desk. In New Jersey, Republican Gov. Chris Christie has vowed to veto any legislation should it reach his office. And in Maryland, the issue is being debated in committees. 

In Minnesota, where the issue of gay marriage is set to come before voters in November, gay and lesbian activists heralded the Proposition 8 news as a positive development, even though the ruling only affects California. 

"It affirms what Minnesotans already know," said Gia Vitali, a spokeswoman for Minnesotans United for All Families. "There’s no reason for government to restrict the freedom to marry."

The Minnesota group is made up of several gay rights groups hoping to defeat the referendum passed last year by the state Legislature. Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton, a Democrat, issued a symbolic veto of the referendum last summer and said he believed the referendum defining marriage as between a man and woman would be defeated.

The ruling, while welcomed, will have little effect in North Carolina, gay rights groups there said.

In May, North Carolina voters will decide whether to amend their constitution to outlaw civil unions and domestic partnerships, said Stuart Campbell, executive director of Equality North Carolina. His group cheered the news out of California, but didn't expect much of a ripple effect.

"It doesn’t have any impact on us," Campbell said. "It’s encouraging… but it has no practical effect on our state."

In Maine, gay marriage groups are hoping to legalize same-sex marriage through an upcoming fall ballot. Three years ago, legislators there passed a bill to legalize gay marriage , which the governor signed, but in November 2009 voters reversed that effort via referendum, 53% to 47%.

Equality Maine has submitted signatures to place the matter on the ballot. They believe that based on evolving public opinion, the strategy may pay off. 

Same-sex marriage is legal in six states -- New York, Connecticut, Iowa, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Vermont -- and the District of Columbia.

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Photo: Ellen Pontac, of Davis, Calif., celebrates in Sacramento with her partner, Shelly Bailes, after a federal appeals court struck down California's Proposition 8 on Tuesday. Credit: Renee C. Byer/The Sacramento Bee

Gay marriage: Fights have begun in Washington, N.J., Maryland...

Gay marriage measures are moving forward in Washington, New Jersey and Maryland, but neither activists for or against same-sex unions are considering those outcomes to be done deals. And even as they brace themselves for ongoing fights in those states, supporters and opponents are preparing for other battles across the country.

The battles are occurring not just in statehouses, but also on the streets. With lawmakers considering expansions of the right to marry, activists are working to amend some state constitutions to define marriage as being between one man and one woman.

Meanwhile, public opinion on the matter appears to be changing. Last May, a Gallup poll showed that, for the first time, a majority of Americans approved of gay marriage. In that survey, 53% of respondents said they approved of same-sex marriages, while 45% disapproved.

Here's a national round-up of legislation and upcoming, or pending, ballot initiatives, according to the Human Rights Campaign, a gay marriage advocacy group that tracks legislation and related efforts nationally.

-- Maryland: After a failed legislative attempt last year, a bill to legalize gay marriage is getting some traction this go-round. A senate committee held public debate this week on a bill introduced by Democratic Gov. Martin O'Malley, and a committee vote is expected in a couple of weeks. Opponents of the bill have indicated they will try to put the issue to a referendum if it passes both chambers of the state's legislature.

-- Washington: The state Senate passed a bill legalizing gay marriage Wednesday, and the Assembly is expected to advance it to Gov. Chris Gregoire, a Democrat, who has said she would sign the legislation. It's expected to reach her desk later this month. Opponents of gay marriage are working on a referendum that probably would place the issue on the fall ballot. The outcome of that election would determine whether same-sex marriages can actually take place. 

-- New Jersey: In the Garden State, lawmakers are working to lock down the number of votes needed to override Gov. Chris Christie's expected veto of a bill permitting gay marriage. New Jersey Democrats believe they have enough votes to pass a bill, but Christie, a Republican, has vowed to veto such a measure if it reaches his desk. He is urging lawmakers to leave the matter up to voters; lawmakers have said they have no intention of humoring the governor in such a way.

-- North Carolina: Voters in May will determine if the state's constitution will be amended to define marriage. But unlike many other states' existing constitutional amendments on the matter, the wording of N.C.'s amendment would virtually outlaw civil unions and domestic partnerships as well, said Sarah Warbelow, state legislative director for the Human Rights Campaign. Of note, the May election is also a Republican primary, so Democratic turnout is expected to be light.

-- Minnesota: Conservative groups have placed on the upcoming November ballot a measure that could amend the state constitution to ban same-sex marriage. Gay marriage is already prohibited in the state, but conservative groups hope that an amendment would stymie future legislative efforts or court decisions from permitting gay marriage. 

-- And finally, in Maine: Legislators passed a gay marriage bill two years ago, which the governor signed, but in November 2009, voters reversed that effort via referendum by a margin of 53% to 47%. Based on favorable public opinion and a conservative shift in the Capitol, gay marriage advocates are now counting on voters in November to decide whether to allow same-sex marriage. Equality Maine, a gay rights group, has submitted signatures to place the referendum on the ballot. 

Same-sex marriage is already legal in six states -- New York, Connecticut, Iowa, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Vermont -- and the District of Columbia.

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Photo: Gov. Martin O'Malley, center, shakes hands Tuesday with Fred Mason, president of the Maryland AFL-CIO, before testifying at a state Senate committee hearing on a same-sex marriage bill in Annapolis. Credit: Patrick Semansky / Associated Press

Washington state Senate approves gay marriage

As supporters packed the public galleries, the Washington state Senate passed legislation Wednesday night that would legalize gay marriage. 

The margin was 28 to 21 -- three more votes than required. The bill now goes to the state House, where it is expected to pass. 

Gov. Chris Gregoire has said she will sign it into law, the Associated Press reported. That would make Washington the seventh state to approve gay marriage. 

"The citizens of Washington state have come to understand that lesbian and gay families are their neighbors and their friends," said Democratic Sen. Ed Murray, the bill's primary sponsor. "Marriage is how society says you are a family, the way the community knows a couple loves each other." 

A conservative Democrat, Sen. Brian Hatfield, told the AP in a statement that he'd agonized over the issue. 

“This is a measure that has emotionally torn at me as I have wrestled with my choice,” he said, noting that he had spent months in thought and prayer. He decided that although private citizens can oppose gay marriage, he as a legislator cannot because it would be discrimination. 

However, Hatfield offered an amendment to put gay marriage to a public referendum. "Let's trust the people," the Seattle Times quoted him as saying. "If you support his bill ... let the voters have the final say."

An opponent, Republican Sen. Mike Padden, said, "If ever there was an issue that needs to be referred to the people, this is it."

The amendment failed, 26 to 23. 

The Senate did approve a series of amendments intended to clarify religious exemptions to the legislation.

Gay marriage is legal in New York, Connecticut, Iowa, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont and the District of Columbia. 

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Photo: Rep. Laurie Jinkins, right, with constituent Marcy Kulland, waves from one Senate gallery across to the other Wednesday night before the state Senate passed legislation that would legalize gay marriage in Washington. The bill now goes to the House. The governor has said she will sign it. Credit: Elaine Thompson / Associated Press

 

 

A vow against gentrification: Seattle woman 'marries' a warehouse

Marry a warehouse? There may be some women who can't much tell the difference between the football-watching lump in the living room and a storage shed, but an Occupy Seattle protester decided to take the metaphor a step further over the weekend when she married the abandoned building at 10th and Union.

The old warehouse, occupied not long ago by anti-corporate protesters in an attempt to reclaim it as a community center, is slated for demolition to make way for a new apartment complex.

"If corporations can have the [same] rights as people, so can buildings," Baylonia Aivaz told Seattle's KOMO-TV in a reference to the U.S. Supreme Court decision that opened the door to nearly unlimited corporate contributions to political campaigns.

"I'm doing this to show the building how much I love it, how much I love community space and how much I love this neighborhood. And I want to stop it from gentrification," said Aivaz, clad in a long white wedding dress and standing near a bulldozer as a ukulele player strummed "Lean on Me."

A graduate of Rancho Palos Verdes High School in Los Angeles and Duke University, Aivaz said on her Facebook event page that the 200 Occupy Seattle protesters who occupied the building had hoped the 107-year-old warehouse could have been used as a place for communal art displays, free child care or other community services.

"The moment we entered the warehouse we became a true community. We became self-motivated. We worked co-operatively," she wrote on the page, which also featured photos of the blessed event. "We explored 36,000 square feet like children, giggling and dreaming at the possibility of all that space. We played with conveyer belts, riding up and down. The kind you always want to sit on in the airport luggage dispensers. We strung up lights.... We removed pounds and pounds of unnecessary building materials.... We dreamed."

Sunday's "gay marriage" (presumably because the building had the female vibe, not to mention that a same-sex marriage bill is pending in the Washington legislature) was to point out that the new luxury apartments will render the city's funky Capitol Hill neighborhood, as Aivaz put it, "even more unaffordable."

Too late, though. As KOMO reported, the bulldozers are already on the move.

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Photo: Occupy Seattle protester Baylonia Aivaz, shown here in a photo from her Facebook event page, "marries" an old warehouse in Seattle.