[Marxism] NY Times edit on civil unions vs. marriage rights for gays

["Fred Feldman" <ffeldman@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/20/opinion/20sat4.html
December 20, 2008
Editorial
Separate and Not Equal 
Civil unions are an inadequate substitute for marriage. Creating a separate,
new legal structure to confer some benefits on same-sex couples neither
honors American ideals of fairness, nor does it grant true equality. The
results are clearly visible in New Jersey, which continues to deny same-sex
couples some of the tangible civil benefits that come with marriage.

Gov. Jon Corzine of New Jersey has long said that he would sign a measure
granting the right to marry to couples of the same sex. We are heartened
that he has declared that that should happen sooner rather than later. 

We hope Mr. Corzine intends to prod legislators into passing such a law
early in the 2009 session. That would make New Jersey the first state to
legalize marriage for same-sex couples through legislative action. Three
other states - Connecticut, Massachusetts and California - have done so
through the courts. Unfortunately, California voters approved a ballot
measure in November rescinding that right, at least for now. 

Mr. Corzine made his statement after a state commission released its final
report on New Jersey's two-year-old civil union law. The commission noted
the hurt and stigma inflicted by shutting out gay people from the
institution of marriage. It also found that civil unions do not assure gay
couples of the same protections, including the right to collect benefits
under a partner's health insurance program and to make medical decisions on
behalf of a partner who is unable to do so. The panel concluded unanimously
that the state should enact a law to remove the inequities. 

We regret that the leaders of the state's Democratic-controlled Legislature
do not view this issue with the same urgency. Senate President Richard
Codey, for instance, said recently that progress in civil rights areas "is
typically achieved in incremental steps." We suspect that political
expedience is clouding Mr. Codey's sense of fairness. Next year in New
Jersey, the governorship and all seats in the Assembly are up for grabs in
an election. Some Republicans already are talking about making their
opposition to same-sex marriage a campaign issue.

Governor Corzine typically takes the right side on important issues, but he
has been known to retreat in the face of opposition. We hope that's not the
case here. It's past time for him and for the Democrats in Trenton to find
the political courage to extend the right to marry to gay couples. 




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