New Group Defends Traditional Marriage in NJ

The newly formed “New Jersey Coalition to Preserve and Protect Marriage” believe marriage should be the union of one man and one woman. Members feel the voters should decide the issue.

The coalition believes the state will win its appeal of a judge’s ruling that gay couples must be allowed to marry in the Garden State beginning Oct. 21, and they’re confident the legislature will never secure the votes needed to override Gov. Chris Christie’s veto of the gay marriage bill.

“Keep in mind that the issue under discussion is marriage not homosexuality,” said Jim White, a coalition member who is with the New Jersey State Council Knights of Columbus. “If same-sex marriage should become legal, other groups currently barred from marriage will ask to marry. There will inevitably be demands for legalization of polygamy, polyandry, group marriage and marriage even between siblings.”

Democratic leaders in the legislature like Sen. President Steve Sweeney say marriage equality is a civil rights issue and should not be left for the voters to decide. They are also confident the State Supreme Court will rule in favor of same-sex marriage and they claim they will secure the votes to override Christie’s veto.

“Marriage, by its natural structure, is the irreplaceable joining of one man and one woman for life,” said Len Deo, another coalition member and president of the New Jersey Family Policy Council. “We pledge a vigorous defense of marriage, including outreach to New Jersey legislators to support Gov. Christie’s veto of same-sex marriage.”