FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE



Friday, May 08, 2009



Contact: Babs Siperstein


(732) 887 8189, mobile


babsc@aol.com


Edison, NJ - Yesterday, the NJ Stonewall Democrats released the following statement in response to the signing of marriage legislation in Maine:

"NJ Stonewall Democrats (NJSD) commends Democratic Governor John Baldacci for signing legislation into law that offers the freedom to marry to same-sex couples.  Local supporters and Democratic leaders built the momentum necessary to pass this bill and we are proud of them.  This legislation will provide legal security for families in Maine and put them on an equal footing economically with other Mainers.

NJSD believes that the time is now for New Hampshire Democratic Governor John Lynch to follow the example of his neighboring state and sign the final version of marriage legislation when it reaches his desk.  NJ Stonewall Democrats supports all the work local advocates in Maine and New Hampshire contributed to support the freedom to marry in the platforms of the Democratic Parties of both of those states.  Democratic support was a critical part of the broad coalition of advocates who are moving marriage equality forward in Maine and New Hampshire and soon in New Jersey."

- Babs Casbar Siperstein, President, NJ Stonewall Democrats.

“Democrats in the Garden State need to look to our New England and Midwestern neighbors, who have set an example of equality for all. NJ STONEWALL applauds Massachusetts, Connecticut, Maine, Vermont, Iowa and New Hampshire. Now is the time for New Jersey leaders to act.  Progressive citizens must encourage our legislators to be as fair-minded, brave and bold as their visionary counterparts.  It is time to end the inequality of civil unions and replace them with marriage for same sex couples in the Garden State” - Ed Zipprich, Red Bank Councilman and Vice President of Development, NJ Stonewall Democrats.


Earlier this week, Democratic Governor John Baldacci signed LD 1020, "An Act to End Discrimination in Civil Marriage and Affirm Religious Freedom."  That Act had been sent to his desk after it received passage from the Democratically controlled Maine Senate and then the Democratically controlled Maine House of Representatives.

“In the past, I opposed gay marriage while supporting the idea of civil unions,” Governor Baldacci said. “I have come to believe that this is a question of fairness and of equal protection under the law, and that a civil union is not equal to civil marriage.”

Last month in New Hampshire, the New Hampshire Senate voted to approve legislation allowing same-sex couples the freedom to marry.  Similar legislation had already been approved by the New Hampshire House of Representatives.  Once finalized, the bill will go to the desk of Democratic Governor John Lynch who has not yet indicated how he will act on the bill.

NJ Stonewall Democrats together with National Stonewall continues to build support for freedom and other pro-equality issues.  In Wyoming, the national Stonewall organization worked with the newly-formed Wyoming Stonewall Democrats this year to help Democrats stop an anti-marriage ballot initiative introduced in the Wyoming legislature.  In Massachusetts, the Bay State Stonewall Democrats played a key role in building Democratic support for marriage legislation enacted in 2004.  Last month, two Stonewall Democrats - Kate and Trish Varnum - won a landmark decision by the Iowa Supreme Court (Varnum V. Brien) that recognized the rights of all Iowans to Marry.  Stonewall Democrats is continuing its work in Iowa by aiding statewide advocates like One Iowa to build support for the Democratic Leadership of the Iowa House and Senate who continue to stand against an onslaught of special-interest attacks from the far right.  And last month in Vermont, Stonewall Democrats initiated a campaign that contributed to three Democratic lawmakers switching their previously anti-marriage votes in order to override a gubernatorial veto and enact marriage legislation in that state.

With more than 120 local chapters the Stonewall Democrats is the national organization of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT) and allied Democrats.  Stonewall Democrats works to elect pro-equality Democrats to public office and improve the Democratic Party on issues important to pro-equality Americans.



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