|
|
Article: New Jersey civil-union bill passes committee; ceither foes nor advocates are wholly satisfied.
- Article from:
- The Philadelphia Inquirer (Philadelphia, PA)
- Article date:
- December 8, 2006
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2006 The Philadelphia Inquirer. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
|
Byline: Troy Graham
Dec. 8--Nearly 60 opponents and supporters of same-sex marriage spoke to New Jersey lawmakers yesterday about a proposed civil-unions bill, agreeing on just one thing: The current bill should not become law. But after several hours of public comments -- the first since the civil-unions legislation was introduced -- the Assembly Judiciary Committee approved the bill by a 4-2 vote. In occasionally emotional testimony, gay-rights activists and same-sex couples said the bill doesn't go far enough to guarantee them the same rights as other married couples. Meanwhile, opponents said the bill goes too far, endangering an institution they ...