Trenton, NJ - Today the New Jersey Family Policy Council joined with two NJ Legislators to support introduction of a state constitutional amendment to protect the definition of marriage as the union of one man and one woman, a husband and a wife. “We applaud Assemblyman Dougherty and Assemblywoman Littell McHose for introducing this important piece of legislation, which is a companion bill to the one Senator Cardinale introduced into the NJ Senate. However, we are deeply troubled that this legislation has not gotten bi-partisan support. Our Governor, Senate President and Assembly Speaker should be leading the charge to preserve and protect marriage from radical redefinition,” stated Len Deo, Founder and President of the New Jersey Family Policy Council.

“We are gravely concerned that our Democratic friends are saying one thing, stating that they believe marriage is the union of a man and a woman, but they are not doing anything to make sure that this definition is protected.” Deo added.

“The NJ Supreme Court has set into motion what appears to be a slow erosion of the very meaning of marriage. Therefore we call upon all legislators, Democrats and Republicans to work together to protect marriage from radical redefinition. New Jerseyans will support a state constitutional amendment and that is backed up in polling that showed support moving from 40 percent in June 2006 to 54 percent in October 2006, respectively. There is a difference between banning gay marriage and defining marriage as the union between one man and one woman constitutionally,” Deo continued.

“Frankly this issue should not be partisan! The people of New Jersey have the right to have their elected officials give them the right to vote on preserving marriage. The Supreme Court has tinkered with the definition of marriage and the Legislature has passed civil unions in response to the Court. Now, based on the comments of many same-sex “marriage” proponents and their legislative supporters, their goal is to move legislation to approve same-sex “marriage” in the next two years. This has left no other option for New Jerseyans who support one man, one woman marriage. Their voice needs to be heard as it has in other states where they were given the right to vote. So we say ‘Let The People Decide,’ by sending a state constitutional amendment to the general election ballot,” concluded Deo.

The New Jersey Family Policy Council is allied with the Trenton Group, Focus on the Family Action, Family Research Council Action, the Alliance Defense Fund and the New Jersey Coalition to Preserve and Protect Marriage. They are moving a Citizens Petition which will seek hundreds of thousands of signatures from New Jerseyans who wish to vote on preserving the definition of marriage.

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