Category: Marriage Equality

Marriage Equality

On October 21, 2013 same-sex marriages became legal in New Jersey following a hard-fought campaign in which UUs across the state were involved. UU FaithAction worked closely with Garden State Equality and New Jersey United for Marriage to encourage our members to attend rallies, visit legislators, and send letters in support of same-sex marriage. Many congregations were open in the wake of this historic event to officiate marriages.

Background

The stage was set for the demise of New Jersey civil unions in June of 2013 when the United States Supreme Court issued its decision in U.S. v. Windsor finding the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) unconstitutional in excluding same-sex couples from the federal benefits afforded to opposite-sex couples. That decision prompted new action in Garden State Equality v. Dow, litigation pending in New Jersey challenging the premise that civil unions were equal to marriage as required by the New Jersey Supreme Court in 2006. In September. In September of 2013 the judge ruled that, in the wake of U.S. v. Windsor, New Jersey’s constitution required that the State recognize same-sex marriage. She ordered marriages to begin on October 21, 2013. Although the State appealed the court’s ruling, the appeal was withdrawn after the State’s request for a stay of that order was denied by the trial judge and then the New Jersey Supreme Court. Our long fight for marriage equality finally succeeded.

James DeBoer has put together a Marriage Equality Guide available as a handout for coffee hour or to give to any couple looking for more information.  It explains most of the questions that arise concerning same-sex marriage in New Jersey as of now.

Thank you to everyone who helped make this campaign so successful. The grass roots pressure that was created in local districts through visits, letters and phone calls helped set the state for dropping the court appeal. Marriage Equality is now the law in New Jersey.

Policy Brief

Historic Links

In keeping with our principles, as marriage equality does not require the attention it did in earlier years, it has been removed as a priority issue to allow us to focus on other important areas.

Princeton: Support for Marriage Equality

by UU FA Office

Rev. Bill Neely, minister at the UU Congregation of Princeton, had a letter to the editor published in the Trenton Times on August 28, calling for marriage equality in New Jersey.

“My wife and 4-year-old daughter recently traveled to attend a wedding for a couple of friends we met at church about 20 years ago. They’ve been in love the whole time and are raising a wonderful child together. I stayed home with our baby, but I heard that the wedding was spectacular. It’s easy to imagine that; they’re a beautiful couple with a wide circle of wonderful friends.

They’ve waited a long time to get married. Because they’re both women, most states judge their relationship to be unworthy of receiving full marital status. Most states discriminate against them. But Maryland recently decided to treat equally all couples who make the promise of marriage. Fortunately for them, our friends live in Maryland, one of 13 equality states. Sadly, if they lived in New Jersey, their marriage would still be unrecognized….”

http://www.nj.com/times-opinion/index.ssf/2013/08/opinion_gov_christies_veto_of.html

Job Announcement – Faith Organizer for Marriage Equality

by UU FA Office

The Unitarian Universalist Legislative Ministry of New Jersey in collaboration with New Jersey United for Marriage, is offering a full-time 3-4 month organizing position to bring about Marriage Equality in New Jersey by the end of this legislative session (January 2014).  The position description is below, and may also be downloaded here.  Priority will be given to applications received by Sept. 6.   Please distribute as widely and as quickly as you can to anyone interested.  For more information, I can be contacted below.

Thank you for your help,
Rev. Craig Hirshberg, Executive Director
Unitarian Universalist Legislative Ministry of NJ
director@UULMNJ.org
(609) 672-7331

Job Announcement: Faith Organizer

New Jersey United for Marriage, the coalition of local, state and national organizations working to win the freedom to marry for all New Jersey families and the Unitarian Universalist Legislative Ministry of NJ, a non-partisan, not-for-profit advocacy network of Unitarian Universalist (UU) congregations of New Jersey which upholds UU values of justice, equality, and compassion by championing human dignity in public policy and legislation, are collaborating to offer the following position. Position Description

This is an immediate opening for a full-time Faith Organizer. The Faith Organizer will work as part of a dynamic field and outreach team and will be responsible for helping to manage the faith engagement program of NJUM. The Faith program focuses on work that builds strong relationships with clergy, people of faith and faith communities, supports organizing initiatives, and manages volunteer teams of people of faith. The Faith Organizer will work under the supervision of the Faith Director of NJUM and the Executive Director of the UULMNJ and will work closely with field staff to set goals, show broad support across denominations, and activate clergy and people of faith to lobby the legislature.

Qualifications:

  • Grounding in the Unitarian Universalist faith and experience in faith organizing with the ability to understand UU social justice values, and be able to speak with authenticity in the UU faith community; affiliation with a UU congregation a plus.
  • Demonstrated experience in recruiting, motivating, and training volunteers and/ or paid staff.
  • Attention to measurable results. Grassroots lobbying experience, especially working with volunteers to produce constituent contacts is strongly desired.
  • Ability to be a team player and work in a highly collaborative, fast-paced environment.
  • Experience in grassroots organizing strongly desired, preferably within the faith community, including event production, 
coalition management and direct voter contact through door-to-door canvassing and phone banking.
  • Curiosity about all aspects of the LGBT community. Prior experience working in LGBT community is strongly desired.
  • Top-notch “people skills,” including excellent oral and written communication skills, are a must.

Specific responsibilities include:

  • Work with the UULMNJ Marriage Equality task force and through UU congregations and volunteers to expand marriage equality support in local targeted communities.
  • Work with local faith leaders to lobby elected officials around marriage equality through constituent meetings, phone calling, visibility events, etc.
  • Work with Faith Director to implement a multi-faith outreach strategy designed to engage people of faith and increase support for marriage equality with legislators.
  • Accurately track and assess leader and volunteer engagement.
  • Help field team research and understand elected officials faith concerns regarding marriage equality, work with Faith staff, faith volunteers and field staff to address these concerns through constituent meeting, visibility events, faith specific communications strategies, etc.

Other requirements:

  • Ability to work evenings and weekends
  • Valid Driver’s License and reliable transportation

Send cover letter and resume electronically to: Amelia Nugent at amelia@NJUM.org.
Priority given to applications received by Sept. 6, 2013.

The position is open to all qualified applicants regardless of race, age, gender, physical ability, sexual orientation, gender identity, partisan and religious affiliations, etc. Women, people of color and members of the LGBTQ community are strongly encouraged to apply.

Policy Brief – Marriage Equality

by UU FA Office

The Legislative Ministry of New Jersey supports full marriage equality legislation in New Jersey.  Unitarian Universalist support for marriage equality stems from the belief in respecting “the inherent worth and dignity of every person” and in “justice, equity and compassion in human relations” – beliefs we share with many outside our faith tradition.  These beliefs apply equally to people of all sexual orientations and gender identities and lead us to not only support, but embrace, marriage equality.

Unitarian Universalist congregations and clergy have long recognized and celebrated same-sex unions and marriages within our faith tradition.  Therefore, we support overturning the veto of marriage equality legislation in New Jersey, Assembly Bill A-1, as well as achieving marriage equality through repeal or overturn of the federal law known as the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA).

Read our policy brief here.

New Jersey Comes Together for Marriage Equality – Training on June 26, Rally on June 27

by UU FA Office

The Supreme Court just struck down the Defense of Marriage Act and upheld the lower court ruling against proposition 8 (on a technicality, but still good for CA).  New Jersey still has it’s work to do, but this certainly helps.

Two important notices:

  • Come to Trenton at 11:30am on Thursday, June 27 for a rally on the capital steps.  We need LOTS of bodies.  There are times to take off work for a cause, and this is one of them. We need to demonstrate how many people feel so strongly about Marriage Equality in NJ.  Wear you Standing on the Side of Love tees if you have them. This will be a huge press event.
  • There is a marriage equality lobbying training on June 26 at the Summit congregation, 4 Waldron Ave, Summit,NJ.  This event is being co-sponsored by the ACLU and Summit church.  It is at 7 PM. Please come to be trained.  Lobbying will a major focus over the next few months as we work to overturn the Governor’s veto.

UUA President Issues Statement on Historic Decisions on Marriage Equality
June 26, 2013

The Rev. Peter Morales, president of the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA), issued this statement following the U.S. Supreme Court’s historic decisions on marriage equality:

“Today, the U.S. Supreme Court, the highest court of our country, stood on the side of love with its decision in United States v. Windsor declaring that the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) is unconstitutional as a deprivation of the equal liberty of persons that is protected by the Fifth Amendment.

This is a proud and momentous day for all who have suffered under this law and felt discrimination based on their sexual orientation. It is a victory for the principle that civil rights belong to all.

In the Proposition 8 case of Hollingsworth v. Perry, the Supreme Court dismissed the appeal over same-sex marriage on jurisdictional grounds, essentially paving the way for marriage equality in California.

While I am disappointed that the Supreme Court did not declare the freedom to marry as a constitutionally-protected “equal protection” right that would apply to all states, I applaud this historic step towards equality.

The Unitarian Universalist Association joined two amicus curiae briefs in these cases with other religious organizations in support of marriage equality. In both cases, the UUA argued that a broad cross-section of religious denominations recognize the dignity of lesbian and gay people and their relationships, recognize the necessary distinction between civil and religious marriage, and recognize that civil marriages of same-sex couples will not impinge upon religious beliefs or practices, but rather will prevent one set of religious beliefs from being imposed on others through civil law.

Unitarian Universalists have been vocal supporters of marriage equality for decades.  I thank them for their dedicated commitment to our Unitarian Universalist principle of affirming the worth and dignity of every person.

There is still so much work to be done to ensure equal protection for all who live and love in our country. As we know, marriage equality strengthens families, protects children, and ensures the basic rights of citizenship for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender couples.

It remains my fervent hope that soon marriage equality is afforded to all in this country. Unitarian Universalists will continue to stand on the side of love with all families.”

Plainfield: Marriage Equality Resolution

by UU FA Office

The First Unitarian Society of Plainfield joined forces with the Plainfield United Church of Christ and the Rahway Plainfield Society of Friends to pass a marriage equality resolution for New Jersey. The resolution states the three churches, as institutions that “affirm and promote the inherent worth and dignity of all people,” have an imperative to call “for the rights of all people to love those whom they love, with full rights to marry and enjoy the benefits of life-time commitment to their loved ones without restriction.”

Marriage Equality Rally at District Meeting

by UU FA Office

Marty Rothfelder (Summit) and Toby Tyler (Morristown), and Rev. Alison Miller (Morristown), along with Rev. Craig, coordinated a Marriage Equality Rally, held on Morristown Green on May 3 in conjunction with the UU Metro District Annual Meeting.  Under the initiative of several NJ UU congregations, delegates also approved a resolution supporting marriage equality.

Watch a YouTube video of the rally: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NTktrLtFL1Y .

Summit Unveils Banner Supporting Marriage Equality

by UU FA Office

The Unitarian Church in Summit unveiled a banner on the front of its building on December 9 supporting full legal recognition of same-sex marriage. The banner reads “Say ‘I Do’ to Marriage Equality” and was designed by graphic designers within the church. Church members discussed the issue last June at the church’s annual meeting and voted to take the stand supporting marriage equality for gays, lesbians, bisexuals, and transgender people.

http://www.nj.com/independentpress/index.ssf/2012/12/unitarian_church_in_summit_unv.html