TRENTON – In light of a Monmouth University/Gannett New Jersey poll on same sex marriage released last week, the New Jersey Family Policy Council has reissued the call to let the people of New Jersey vote on a Marriage Protection Amendment defining marriage as between one man and one woman. According to the poll, which interviewed 402 adults – not voters – across New Jersey and had a margin of error of +/- 4.9%, 48% favor allowing same-sex marriages, while 43% oppose. Interestingly, however, polling in California last year also suggested voters favored same-sex marriage. A May 2008 poll, for example, showed support for same-sex marriage at 51%-42%, yet when actually given the opportunity to vote on the issue, Californians rejected same-sex marriage by a 52%-48% margin. “Pro-gay marriage advocates are pouncing on this poll as evidence of support for their campaign to radically redefine marriage,” stated Len Deo, president of the New Jersey Family Policy Council. “The reality, though, is that in 30 states in which voters have had the opportunity to decide this critical issue, they have voted consistently to protect the institution of marriage. Perhaps this is why pro-gay marriage advocates still seem intent on keeping this issue out of the hands of ‘we the people’ and in the few hands of the legislature and unelected courts – which are no doubt influenced by the self-serving polling numbers and guided by the questionable ‘findings’ of the biased Civil Union Review Commission.” The Civil Union Review Commission – established in 2007 to review the effectiveness of the state’s Civil Union Act – concluded that New Jersey should legalize same-sex marriage. Yet the Commission’s make-up is far from objective as more than half of its 13 members are overt pro-gay activists. “Why won’t pro-gay marriage advocates let the people of New Jersey decide for themselves?” Deo stated. “What are they afraid of? Perhaps it’s the fact that they know the only tactic they have to achieve their agenda of radically redefining marriage is to make sure the people of New Jersey never have a voice in the matter. New Jersey voters deserve better. We once again call on the Legislature to place a Marriage Protection Amendment preserving marriage on the ballot this November. The people of New Jersey have a right to decide this critical issue. |
