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Article: NJ Lawmakers to Vote on Civil Unions
- Article from:
- AP Online
- Article date:
- December 14, 2006
CopyrightCopyright 2006 Associated Press/AP Online. This material is published under license from the publisher through YellowBrix, Alexandria, Virginia. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to YellowBrix. (Hide copyright information)
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TRENTON, N.J. - Under pressure from New Jersey's highest court to offer marriage or its equivalent to gay couples, lawmakers gathered on Thursday to vote on whether to create civil unions.
The legislation - which would extend to gay couples all the rights and privileges available under state law to married people - would make New Jersey the third state with civil unions.
Both the Senate and Assembly scheduled afternoon votes on the measure. Democratic Gov. Jon S. Corzine said he would sign it into law.
Massachusetts is the only state to allow gay marriage. Vermont and Connecticut have civil unions, and California has domestic partnerships that work similarly.
Among the benefits gay ...