The New Jersey Supreme Court opened the door to gay marriage today.? The ruling stipulates that lawmakers must offer same-sex couples either marriage, or something like it, such as civil unions.? In a split vote, the Supreme Court declared 4-3 that gay couples are entitled to the same rights as heterosexual couples.
Lawmakers have 180 days to draft and pass appropriate legislation.
“Although we cannot find that a fundamental right to same-sex marriage exists in this state, the unequal dispensation of rights and benefits to committed same-sex partners can no longer be tolerated under our state Constitution,” Justice Barry T. Albin wrote for the four-member majority.
Here’s a twist.? The three justices who dissented said the majority did not go far enough.? They demanded full marriage for gays.