FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | October 26, 2006

NCLR Applauds Victory in New Jersey Marriage Equality Case

(Trenton, NJ, October 26, 2006) — In a decision issued on Wednesday, October 25, 2006, the New Jersey Supreme Court stood up for equality for same-sex couples and our families. All seven justices held that excluding lesbian and gay people from marriage violates the equality guarantee of the New Jersey Constitution. While three justices found that the state must permit same-sex couples to marry, four justices ruled that the legislature must decide how to remedy the current unconstitutional marriage law.

"Having another state supreme court stand up for the equality and dignity of lesbian and gay couples is a tremendously positive development," said Shannon Minter, Legal Director for NCLR and lead counsel in Woo v. California, the California marriage equality case. "In unflinching language, the New Jersey Supreme Court made clear that lesbian and gay people are entitled to full equality under the New Jersey Constitution. While a majority of the court left it to the legislature to implement its mandate, we are hopeful the legislature will take the only step that can achieve true equality - which is to remove the current discriminatory limitation on marriage."

The court gave the legislature 180 days to comply with the court's ruling.

NCLR congratulates our colleagues Lambda Legal and Garden State Equality on this historic victory. We look forward to the day when LGBT people in every state enjoy the same rights and protections, and the same legal status, as their heterosexual peers.

And if you have friends or family in New Jersey, please ask them to contact their legislators to show their support of marriage equality, and get in touch with Garden State Equality for more information.

Thank you for your support in this historic fight, and please continue to support NCLR as our work to achieve full and equal justice under the law continues.