Same-sex marriage
forum set
Initial balanced
panel offered Tuesday.
Assemblyman wants to
know what residents think.
BY SARA K. SATULLO,
The Express-Times, December 4, 2006
Assemblyman Mike Doherty wants to
know whether Warren County residents think John should be allowed to marry John.
Doherty, R-Warren and Hunterdon, will kick off a series of public forums on
same-sex marriage Tuesday at Warren Hills Regional High School.
Doherty said the forums are spurred by the state Supreme Court's October ruling
that same-sex couples should be afforded the same rights as married,
heterosexual couples.
The court gave the Legislature 180 days to determine how to accomplish this
either through a broadening of the definition of marriage or through the
creation of a separate status, such as civil unions.
"It is going to have a great impact on the state of New Jersey and I think it
should be discussed," Doherty said.
Doherty will serve on a panel with three others involved in the issue of
same-sex marriage. Two panelists are for same-sex marriage and two others
opposed, one of them being Doherty.
"I believe marriage is between a man and a woman," Doherty said, expressing his
disapproval with what he calls "legislating from the bench."
One of the panelists is John Campbell, a member of the state Civil Rights
Commission and co-founder and sponsor of the Gay and Lesbian -- Political Action
& Support Groups. Rounding out the forum are Lawrence Lustberg, the
counsel from Lambda Legal Defense, the oldest national legal group fighting for
gay rights, and Larry Cirignano, the executive director of Catholic Citizenship,
a group that encourages Catholics to become politically aware and vote on their
values.
Panelists will make a five-minute presentation explaining their stance and then
the forum is open for comment.
Doherty said he believes the issue hinges upon the difference between economic
benefits and Constitutional rights.
Certain economic benefits are given to people whose behavior the government
wants to encourage, he said, such as military veterans. He said he
believes the domestic partnership act already handles the rights issues.
He fights for the Constitutional rights of the public regardless of sexual
preference, he said.
Campbell, who is gay and married his 20-year life partner in Canada, said he
disagrees.
"We (Campbell and his partner) did everything we could to provide the same
benefits legally," he said. "But when you don't have the recognition, it
is just not the same thing."
His primary focus, Doherty said, is on who should be making these decisions.
In a democracy, elections hold public officials accountable for their actions;
the public can't hold the courts accountable, he said.
Campbell's organization feels the court's decision is appropriate but "regrets
they left the name of it up to the Legislature," he said. Civil marriage
is important because other states and countries would be forced to recognize the
union, he said.
"Domestic partnership is a sad statement making us second-class citizens," he
said. "America promises liberty and justice for us all."
Reporter Sara K. Satullo can be reached at 908-475-2174 or by
e-mail at
ssatullo@express-times.com
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