|
|
Article: Civil unions arrive
- Article from:
- Press of Atlantic City
- Article date:
- December 22, 2006
- Author:
CopyrightCopyright [2006] Press of Atlantic City. Provided by ProQuest LLC. (Hide copyright information)
|
TRENTON - New Jersey became the third state in the nation to offer civil unions to gay couples under legislation signed Thursday by Gov. Jon S. Corzine.
The new law grants same-sex couples the same rights as all married couples without calling their union a marriage. It goes into effect Feb. 19.
For gay couples attending a bill signing ceremony, the new law represented progress but not victory.
"We can't deny it's a giant step to give us the same rights. I don't think it gives us the same respect, unfortunately," said Ed Mather, 64, of Morris Township, who has been with his partner, the Rev. Robert Kriesat, for 37 years.
In October, the state Supreme Court ordered the state ...