Trenton, NJ – Once Governor Corzine signed into law the NJ Civil Unions Bill, he left no choice to us who believe that marriage is solely the union of a man and a woman except to move for a State Constitutional Amendment defining marriage. The battle lines have been drawn in this heated debate. We oppose the Civil Unions bill because it is a band aid on a gaping wound. It is discriminatory, non-inclusive and a threat to religious liberty as well. In addition I am deeply concerned that the legislature has not responded to the full directive of the New Jersey Supreme Court by defining marriage as the union of husband and wife, one man and one woman and the important benefits that brings to our society and culture,” stated Len Deo, Founder and President of the New Jersey Family Policy Council.

“We are asking the legislature to add the following language: The legislature further finds that providing equal benefits to same-sex couples while retaining the historic legal definition of marriage as the union of husband and wife serves an important public purpose,” Deo added.

“The legislature should set social policy. They should not be fast tracking such a critical piece of legislation without setting forth the true nature of what marriage is and has been for thousands of years. Polling shows that New Jerseyans are concerned about protecting marriage, even by a state constitutional amendment where polling support moved from 40 percent to 54 percent from June ’06 to October ‘06, respectively. There is a difference between banning gay marriage and defining marriage as the union between one man and one woman constitutionally,” Deo continued.

“If this amendment to the Civil Union bill fails then we call on the legislature to “Let the People Decide” and we urge them to send a State Constitutional Amendment to the ballot defining marriage as the union of one man and one woman. The Supreme Court has definitely tinkered with the definition of marriage and the Legislature has not responded and frankly has left no other option to the people. Their voice needs to be heard as it has in other states where activist judges have attempted to radically redefine marriage,” concluded Deo.

The New Jersey Family Policy Council is allied with the Trenton Group, Marriage Law Project, The Institute for Marriage and Public Policy, the Alliance Defense Fund and the New Jersey Coalition to Preserve and Protect Marriage. Millions of Americans and New Jerseyans support these and other state-based allied organizations working to protect and preserve the definition of marriage.

###