Community Corner

Supreme Court Rules DOMA Unconstitutional; New Jersey Reacts

New Jersey gay rights advocates and Democratic elected officials hailed the Supreme Court decision to strike down a law blocking benefits for same-sex couples as a major victory for equality Wednesday. 

"I am overjoyed for countless gay and lesbian couples whose love and commitment will no longer be classified as unequal to that of their straight counterparts," said Newark Mayor Cory Booker, who is also running for U.S. Senate. "I am also overjoyed for all Americans who now live in a country that is more free and equal than ever before – for truly, the meaning of American citizenship as a whole was elevated today."

In a pair of decisions Wednesday, the Supreme Court ruled that a law barring legally-married gay couples from receiving a host of federal benefits afforded to heterosexual couples is unconstitutional and paved the way for same-sex marriage to become legal in California.

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In a 5-4 vote, the court struck down a provision of the Defense of Marriage Act, the law blocking benefits for gay couples, from tax breaks to pension benefits. Justice Anthony Kennedy wrote the majority opinion, saying the law violated the guarantee of equal protection under the U.S. Constitution.

“The federal statute is invalid, for no legitimate purpose overcomes the purpose and effect to disparage and to injure those whom the state, by its marriage laws, sought to protect in personhood and dignity," Kennedy wrote in the opinion, Reuters reported.

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But while the decisions were seen as a victory for gay rights groups, Garden State Equality noted New Jersey law continues to bar same-sex marriage. The group announced it would hold a rally at the statehouse in Trenton on Thursday.

“The fight must go on, and we will continue to fight it until we win,” the group said.

State Senate Majority Leader Loretta Weinberg and Senate President Steve Sweeney issued a statement calling for New Jersey to allow same-sex marriage.

“This decision marks significant progress in the ongoing fight for civil rights for all Americans. It is a shame that New Jersey stands so far behind the rest of the country and now the Supreme Court on this issue. It is time to finally establish marriage equality here in New Jersey and for those who have worked to obstruct true equality to get out of the way,” the senators said in a joint statement.

Gov. Christie vetoed a gay marriage bill and has suggested letting voters decide on the issue. The Republican governor has drawn criticism from gay rights groups for his record on the issue. Christie’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

State Senator Barbara Buono, who is seeking to run against Gov. Chris Christie, said the decision puts the United States “firmly on the right side of history.”

“The Supreme Court’s decision overturning the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) is a landmark moment for our country, our values and all those who have waited so many years to see this day. For too long, our gay brothers and sisters were discriminated against under the law simply because of who they loved,” Buono said in a statement.

The court’s 5-4 ruling on California’s case left in place a lower court ruling striking down the state’s Proposition 8, which banned same-sex marriage, the Associated Press reported. The immediate impact was unclear, but the New York Times reported legal analysts believed California would restart marrying gay couples in the coming weeks.

Patch Staff Writers Keith Brown, Christopher Sheldon and Edward Van Embden contributed to this article. 


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