| Author |
Message |
    
Maplewoody
Real Name
Username: Maplewoody
Post Number: 480
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 3, 2004 - 11:55 pm: |     |
Has anyone (Same Sex Couples) tried applied to apply for a Marriage license at our Townhall?
Just curious, after seeing Greentree's posting that she and he Spouse are schlepping all the way out to San Francisco to tie the knot! |
ajc
Citizen
Username: Ajc
Post Number: 2531
Registered: 9-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, March 4, 2004 - 8:53 am: | |
I don't know about a marriage license, but why not?
I believe our township committee recently was the first community in the state to approve some form of same sex employee benefits for town employees. Given the town officially recognizes same sex couples, personally I don’t see what difference it makes if they issued marriage licenses as well.
FWIW, a couple of years ago, I hosted a same sex marriage that took place here in Maplewood at Les Saisons. I believe at the time they called it a Commitment Ceremony. I never thought to ask the minister to see a marriage license.
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ReallyTrying
Citizen
Username: Reallytrying
Post Number: 281
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, March 4, 2004 - 2:18 pm: | |
Whether the town grants marriage licenses for same-sex pairings doesn't matter one bit if state law does not also allow such licenses. It's state law that governs the relationships and rights arising from the marrital state, such as rights of survivorship, property rights, etc. This is a matter of state law (did I say that already?), not of a town council making a decision. And there is a huge difference between (1) granting employment benefits to same sex partners and (2) granting fundamental, essential civil rights to them.
FWIW, I personally believe that all people, hetero- and homosexuals alike, should have the same basic civil rights, including those found in marriage. But it is essential to separate opinions and moral judgments, on the one hand, from the law, on the other. |
Joan
Citizen
Username: Joancrystal
Post Number: 2546
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, March 4, 2004 - 4:33 pm: | |
Really Trying is correct. Commitment ceremony certificates under whatever name you wish to give them are relatively easy to come by if you know where to go. It's getting the legal rights obtained only through a State-issued marriage license which is so difficult.
Even the same-sex couples being married in San Francisco are faced with the problem of getting their home state to recognize the legality of their union when they return home from their honeymoon. |
Maplewoody
Real Name
Username: Maplewoody
Post Number: 483
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, March 4, 2004 - 9:09 pm: | |
OK, I read today that the NY state laws do not recognize a same sex couple marrying. I haven't seen anythimg on NJ. Does NJ law specifically mention that marriages are only for a man & woman? |
LibraryLady (ncjanow)
Citizen
Username: Librarylady
Post Number: 1265
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, March 4, 2004 - 9:50 pm: | |
According to yesterdays New York Times, no. Marriage in NJ is NOT defined as being between two members of the opposite sex.
Nancy Chiller Janow
On a coffee break..or something like it. |
mwsilva
Real Name
Username: Mwsilva
Post Number: 392
Registered: 5-2002
| | Posted on Thursday, March 4, 2004 - 10:35 pm: | |
Hey, In France it is leagal to marry a dead person if you can prove that you intended to marry before the death.
The marrage is legal and all the "benefits" are binding.
So what is the problem here?
Can I marry my cat? |
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