Overturning Marriage Would Serve Interests of 0.04%

 (Four One Hundredths Of One Percent) of New Jersey’s Population!

Trenton -- New Jersey Family Policy Council (NJFPC) today highlighted the real numbers behind the same-sex “marriage” argument.

Len Deo, Founder and President of NJFPC, stated, “Same-sex ‘marriage’ proponents would have us believe the issue is one of equality, but the numbers paint quite a different picture.”

Of the 8,600,000+ individuals living in New Jersey, 37.2% are joined in one-man/one-woman marriage relationships. Conversely, only 0.04% of New Jerseyans have entered into civil unions. Studies continue to show marriage between one man and one woman delivers distinct benefits both for families and for society as a whole and social research confirms children fare best when raised by a mother and father.

“It’s inarguable that marriage between one man and one woman benefits the common good,” noted Deo. “The same, however, cannot be said of same-sex unions. No one is denying the right of same-sex couples to live as they so choose. But this does not translate into a right to radically redefine marriage in New Jersey for everyone as a special service to the 0.04% of the population that has entered into civil unions,” Deo added.

“When we really get down to it,” Deo continued, “with all the rhetoric of equal rights being voiced, many don’t realize that equal rights for same-sex couples are already protected under New Jersey law.”

Under the New Jersey Civil Union Law, passed in 2006, same-sex couples in civil unions are guaranteed the same rights and protections as married couples, including hospital visitation rights, adoption rights, and health and insurance benefits.

“The equal rights and protections already guaranteed by New Jersey law substantiate the fact that the issue at stake is not one of equality but of hijacking the definition of marriage,” concluded Deo. “And let’s be honest, if something so foundational to society is radically redefined to serve 0.04% of the population, then that can hardly be qualified as true equality.”

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