On February19, at City Hall, Jersey City, at the invitation of Mayor Jerry Healy, New Jersey LGBT activists and supportive, and somewhat envious, New Yorkers, gathered for a rally billed as "The PATH to Progress" to acknowledge the first day on which same-sex couples could apply for civil union licenses here.
 |
|
| Jersey City Mayor Jerry Healy |
|
New Jersey is just the third state, after Vermont and Connecticut, to grant this sort of legal recognition. The preponderance of speakers made it clear that they were celebrating civil union primarily as a first step in the path toward full marriage equality, as it exists in Massachusetts, and voiced expectations that that would be achieved within the next two years. The New Jersey legislature passed the bill permitting same-sex civil unions on December 14, 2006 and Governor Jon S. Corzine signed it into law on December 21.
Walt Boraczek, President of Hudson Diversity Action Council, and Steven Goldstein, Chair of Garden State Equality, coordinated the rally and introduced the other speakers, including Mayor Healy; Catherine Hecht, Co-Chair of Jersey City Lesbian and Gay Outreach, which organizes Jersey City Pride; Jersey City Council Member Steven Fulop; David Bimbi, of Hudson Pride Connections; Yvette Cid and Kristin Hurd, Co-Chairs of Chilltown Pride Center; and Mike Murphy, erstwhile New Jersey gubernatorial candidate.
 |
|
| Catherine Hecht, Jersey City Lesbian & Gay Outreach |
|
"Civil union is a phenomenal step, but we are not fully there," said Boraczek. Goldstein originally hailed from across the Hudson River, but commented, "The notion of ever going back to New York, where they have a fraction of the rights we have here: that's preposterous!" Concerning the meaning of "PATH to Progress" he declared, "We won civil unions. We will win marriage equality ... in two years or less." "I am proud to welcome this community to Jersey City," said the Mayor, announcing, "Jersey City will start performing civil union ceremonies ... tomorrow morning."
Hecht called equal rights "long overdue" and, addressing the couples applying for civil union licenses, said, "I wish you all the best of luck and happiness and I thank you for granting us the privilege of celebrating your happiness." To the state's lawmakers she promised, "You will not stop hearing our voices till we get 100 percent marriage equality."
 |
|
| Jersey City Council Member Steven Fulop |
|
Introducing himself with, "I come from an immigrant family, ... from Holocaust survivors," Council Member Fulop aired his view, on civil union versus marriage, that, "Separate but equal ... is not what this country is based on," adding his voice to the idea that "you should view it as a step" and that New Jersey "should be a progressive state that recognizes marriage in full."
Bimbi said that he is looking forward to marriage equality "particularly because my mother wants a real wedding." "We will get marriage," insisted Cid, saying, "As a Hispanic and a woman, I am very proud today," to which Hurd appended, "I am definitely looking forward to having [same-sex] marriage come forth from New Jersey."
Boraczek and Goldstein presented two of the couples applying to Jersey City Clerk Robert Byrne for civil union licenses. Episcopal Priest Greg Perez said, "The door has opened-not all the way-but it will" and his partner, Doug Flores, of Hudson Diversity and Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network, expressed his gratitude "to be here during this historic time," and added, "I thank God that I'm gay. I thank God that I'm with Greg." The members of the other couple were Larry Flick, of Sirius Radio's Out Q, and his partner Shane Owens, from Wales, who said simply, "I want to thank everyone who made today possible."
 |
|
| Solidarity Singers |
|
The Solidarity Singers brought the rally to a close with "This Little Light of Mine," adapted, for the occasion, with verses such as, "We've got the light of equal rights, we're gonna let it shine" and "When we take those marriage vows, we're gonna let it shine." Dinner at the nearby Love Is the Message restaurant, compliments of Garden State Equality, followed.
Applicants for civil union license must provide birth certificate, passport or driver's license; proof of current address; social security number; proof of dissolution of any previous marriage, such as divorce or death certificate; any domestic partnership certificate previously obtained by the couple; and a qualified witness, 18 or over, who knows the applicants for at least half a year and must show proof of current residence. The licensing fee, payable in cash only, is $28. The license will be issued three days after the application is filed and must be delivered within 30 days to the person who will officiate at or solemnize the union, after which the official civil union certificate is issued. Members of the couple need not reside in New Jersey, just must plan to unite here, but the license is valid only in this state.
