Couples were finally able to legally commit to each other in NJ this week. In the wee hours of the morning on Monday, February 19, 2007, couples across the state applied for civil union licenses. Some mayors opened their doors at midnight Sunday night / Monday morning to receive the applications.
Like all applications for marriage in the state, those applying for civil unions had to wait the mandatory 72 hours before tying the knot. Couples who were previously married in another state were automatically recognized in NJ and, if they choose to have a ceremony in NJ, would not have to wait the mandatory 72 hours.
At 12:01a.m. on Thursday, February 22, 2007, in Lambertville, NJ, Beth Asaro and Joanne Schailey were joined in civil union by Mayor David DelVecchio. Other ceremonies were performed in Asbury Park and South Orange.
Not all residents, however, will be able to have a ceremony in their home town. Some mayors are refusing to perform the ceremonies. DelVecchio, however, welcomes them. He has received applications from at least 25 couples from municipalities outside of Lambertville. Applications for licenses have also been received in Bernards, Clinton Town, Clinton Township, Collingswood, Hillsborough, Raritan Borough, Readington and South Plainfield.
Other states have similar laws legalizing same-sex unions. Like New Jersey, Connecticut and Vermont have civil unions, California has legalized domestic partnership, and only one state, Massachusetts, gives same-sex couples the right to marry.
While civil unions give same-sex couples many of the same rights as heterosexual couples, it still doesn't give couples all of the same rights. Among the many rights now conferred to same-sex couples, civil union provides couples the right to adopt, child custody rights, visitation of a partner who is hospitalized, the ability to make medical decisions and the same access to health insurance coverage employers offer spouses of employees. Partners who have been joined in civil union now also have the right not to testify against their partner in court. But because the federal government and most states do not recognize same-sex unions, partners are not able to receive Social Security benefits.
New Jersey will allow non-residents to apply for civil union licenses. However, if couples return to their home state where the unions are not recognized, they will not receive the benefits of the union.
Sunday, February 25, 2007
Saturday, February 17, 2007
Evil Is ....
Heard an interesting quote today ....
Evil is not a Cultural Condition ... it's a Human Condition.
Evil is not a Cultural Condition ... it's a Human Condition.
Wednesday, February 14, 2007
Discrimination is ....
people who think they have a say over what other people do
people who want to deny rights from other people ... because they can't think about anything but themselves ... their "beliefs" ... their supposed "morals" ... their delusions
people who LIE about other people just because they think they're better than other people because all they can think about is themselves (see above)
people who think THEY make the rules ... when really it's just their delusion talking
people who lie TO other people to put people down ... control them ... take rights away from them ... humiliate them ... desecrate them ... because all they can think about is themselves (again, see above)
people who think it's actually OK to have different rules depending on who/what you are ... simply because they decided they can make the rules regardless of anyone else because they can only think about themselves (never mind, you know to see above)
people who lie to themselves ... others ... the world ... and cheat themselves ... others ... the world ... in order to get around the system (yes, we know you do ... and we can prove it ;) - feeling a little ... paranoid? "just because you're paranoid doesn't mean ...")
change is inevitable. change sucks. but without it we end up ignorant, anger-filled bigots who think the world exists to revolve around us.
move on people. please. welcome to reality.
people who want to deny rights from other people ... because they can't think about anything but themselves ... their "beliefs" ... their supposed "morals" ... their delusions
people who LIE about other people just because they think they're better than other people because all they can think about is themselves (see above)
people who think THEY make the rules ... when really it's just their delusion talking
people who lie TO other people to put people down ... control them ... take rights away from them ... humiliate them ... desecrate them ... because all they can think about is themselves (again, see above)
people who think it's actually OK to have different rules depending on who/what you are ... simply because they decided they can make the rules regardless of anyone else because they can only think about themselves (never mind, you know to see above)
people who lie to themselves ... others ... the world ... and cheat themselves ... others ... the world ... in order to get around the system (yes, we know you do ... and we can prove it ;) - feeling a little ... paranoid? "just because you're paranoid doesn't mean ...")
change is inevitable. change sucks. but without it we end up ignorant, anger-filled bigots who think the world exists to revolve around us.
move on people. please. welcome to reality.
Tuesday, February 06, 2007
NJ Elementary School Shows Video Depicting Gay Families - Parents Get Nasty
There is a huge controversy going on in Evesham, NJ right now. Turns out the school district decided to show the award-winning film, That's a Family!, to 3rd graders. The film was intended to be part of the District's commitment to diversity, which includes showing diverse families as part of their mission to be inclusive of all children in the district. It has, however, turned into displays of bad behavior and, frankly, a lot of intolerance on the parts of many parents in the district.
First we need to be really clear - we have not viewed the film in question. We have reviewed articles and various commentary on the subject. Our views are based on what we have read and clips we have seen of the video.
The School District released a comment on its website which states in part, "...the video does not discuss marriage or advocate any particular lifestyle. As part of our Health curriculum, the Evesham Township School District does include teaching of the many varieties of families that represent our community. The concept is taught from the perspective of accepting and respecting all of our children. Its main focus is to encourage children to understand the diversity of family backgrounds, and to note that the roles and responsibilities in families are similar. This unit aligns our curriculum with the state of New Jersey's Core Curriculum Content Standards in Comprehensive Health and Physical Education."
But apparently, parents have missed the point. While many types of families were depicted in the film, it's the lesbian and gay families that have caused quite a stir in the community and seems to have landed the District smack-dab in the middle of a national debate on the issue of same-sex marriage.
The Philadelphia Inquirer reported earlier this week that after parents viewed the video, the ensuing four-hour meeting "frequently erupted into shouting, accusations and name-calling." According to first-hand accounts of parents who attended the meeting, the general feeling was the same - parents behaved badly, were acting as poor role-models for their children and epitomized the need for such a video to be shown.
First we need to be really clear - we have not viewed the film in question. We have reviewed articles and various commentary on the subject. Our views are based on what we have read and clips we have seen of the video.
The School District released a comment on its website which states in part, "...the video does not discuss marriage or advocate any particular lifestyle. As part of our Health curriculum, the Evesham Township School District does include teaching of the many varieties of families that represent our community. The concept is taught from the perspective of accepting and respecting all of our children. Its main focus is to encourage children to understand the diversity of family backgrounds, and to note that the roles and responsibilities in families are similar. This unit aligns our curriculum with the state of New Jersey's Core Curriculum Content Standards in Comprehensive Health and Physical Education."
But apparently, parents have missed the point. While many types of families were depicted in the film, it's the lesbian and gay families that have caused quite a stir in the community and seems to have landed the District smack-dab in the middle of a national debate on the issue of same-sex marriage.
The Philadelphia Inquirer reported earlier this week that after parents viewed the video, the ensuing four-hour meeting "frequently erupted into shouting, accusations and name-calling." According to first-hand accounts of parents who attended the meeting, the general feeling was the same - parents behaved badly, were acting as poor role-models for their children and epitomized the need for such a video to be shown.
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