Trenton, NJ – Zoby recently released a poll paid for by Garden State Equality as an attempt to show that New Jerseyans support same-sex marriage.  However, the poll results are dubious at best, and are out of line with other recent polling on the issue. 

In this new poll, New Jerseyans were asked what legal relationship they would recognize for same-sex couples by choosing between same-sex marriage, civil unions or no partnership rights.  While 48 percent of chose marriage, the majority, 50%, chose NOT to recognize same-sex “marriage”; 30 percent supported civil unions but no more, and 20 percent supported neither option.

Yet when voters were asked if they would be upset if the legislature upgraded civil unions to marriage equality, 63% said no.  What does this tell us?  It shows that the poll questions were framed in order to produce the result desired by Garden State Equality.  So the media must ask the following questions:

1. Can we see the full questionnaire and the order of the questions?
2. Was there any explanation that preceded the questions that would bias the response or a particular phrase used to elicit a desired response, such as upgraded, or marriage equality?
3. Was important information excluded, such as how such a redefinition of marriage would affect everyone, including churches and schools?

The phrase “upgraded civil unions to marriage equality,” is framed in a way that influences respondents to see the question as one about equality, and that is just how same-sex activists know they can get the response they want. “Equality is not the issue here,” stated Len Deo Founder and President of the New Jersey Family Policy Council. “We do not treat all forms of behavior as equal. We rightly reject polygamous unions and multiple party sexual relationships.  Marriage as the union of a man and a woman is the original and best department of health, education and welfare. Mountains of social science research show that children do best with a mom and a dad bonded to them and to each other in love. Moms and dads are not interchangeable nor is either sex dispensable.  Any move to redefine marriage puts the interests of children in peril,” Deo added.

If Garden State Equality really believed their own polling, they would not be opposed to letting the people vote on the question of defining marriage. Garden State Equality’s position speaks louder than its polls! 

The New Jersey Family Policy Council (NJFPC) is an education and research organization dedicated to preserving, protecting, and promoting marriage, family, faith and religious freedom.

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