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Gay marriage fight headed for New Jersey Email story to a friend Newark, New Jersey-AP -- The battle over gay marriages is moving to New Jersey. A national gay rights group says it will file a lawsuit in a New Jersey court today on behalf of seven same-sex couples who have been denied marriage licenses. Lawyers say they'll argue that the state is violating the plaintiffs' right to equal protection, since by not being eligible for marriage they lose out on things like spousal inheritance rights and Social Security benefits when a partner dies. The lead attorney for the...

Battle over same-sex marriage takes shape in Jersey In courts and Legislature, gay couples push to expand legal rights Tuesday, April 22, 2003 BY KATHY BARRETT CARTER Star-Ledger Staff [Trenton, NJ] -- After 32 years together, Chris Lodewyks and Craig Hutchinson want to get married. And they want their marriage to be legal.The Pompton Lakes couple are among a growing and increasingly vocal group that want New Jersey to become the first state in the nation to recognize same-sex marriages for lesbians and gay men."This is the next chapter in our lives," said Hutchinson, 52. "We want to show that...

Copyright 2002 U.S. Newswire, Inc. U.S. Newswire December 30, 2002 Monday SECTION: State Desk LENGTH: 441 words HEADLINE: Citizen's Group Blasts New Jersey Legislation For Endangering Civilians While Exempting Police DATELINE: NORTH BRUNSWICK, NJ, Dec. 30 BODY: The following is a statement from the New Jersey Coalition for Self Defense concerning Governor McGreevy's signature on the "Smart Gun" legislation: Governor James McGreevy signed into law legislation that will make New Jersey citizens guinea pigs for unproven technology. This action will cost more New Jersey citizen's lives than it will ever save. The so called "Smart Gun" legislation will eventually restrict...

Here Come the Jersey Clones A devastating bill inches toward law. The U.S. Congress remains practically agnostic on human cloning. Or so its inaction suggests. A bill sits in the House of Representatives waiting to face debate. A Senate bill sponsored by Senator Sam Brownback, too, waits in the wings. The president issued a challenge to the legislative branch to get moving during his State of the Union address last week, and to get moving toward a total prohibition on all human cloning — not some half-baked ban that would, in the end, let the clone creation march onward anyway;...

OK for same-sex marriages sought in N.J. Wednesday, January 15, 2003 By RUTH PADAWER Staff Writer More than 200 of the faithful squeezed into the small church hall, applauding wildly as believers offered testimonials of love. One by one, they bore witness to the power of commitments. They were met with hoots and whistles from an adoring flock. This was no religious revival. Instead, it was a pep rally for gay rights in New Jersey. With a lawsuit pending in state court over same-sex marriage, gay-rights leaders this week unveiled the first of 10 meetings designed to rouse sympathizers from...

Oppose AR 216 This resolution will probably be scheduled for the January 23 Assembly voting session. Please act immediately. Assemblywoman Loretta Weinberg introduced the resolution, which urges opposition to the appointment of Dr. W. David Hager by President Bush to the FDA’s Committee for Reproductive Health Drugs. On January 9, the Assembly Health Committee voted this resolution out of committee by a party line vote of 6-1 and 1 abstention. All 6 Democrats on the Committee voted for the resolution. Dr. Hager has already been appointed to this position so it is a moot point. Abortion activists have attacked him...

Jersey bill would give same-sex couples legal benefits Sunday, October 20, 2002 By KATHY BARRETT CARTER Star-Ledger Staff [Newark, NJ] -- The battle over legal benefits for same-sex relationships is about to hit New Jersey. A bill expected to be introduced this month would make New Jersey the third state in the nation to allow the benefits of marriage to partners living together. The bill stops short of recognizing gay marriages, but it would sanction virtually all of the legal benefits that marriage allows. Similar to the proposed federal Domestic Partners Benefits and Obligation Act, the state bill would allow...