In the darkness of New Jersey's Anti Gay GOP Governor Chris Christie vetoing the bill that would legalize gay marriage in the Garden State, Superior Court Judge Linda Feinberg reinstated on Tuesday 2 previously dismissed grounds of complaint in the lawsuit brought by gay couples, 10 of their children & the gay-rights organization Garden State Equality. "At this juncture, the court is satisfied there is sufficient state action to permit the claim under the federal equal protection clause to proceed,'' Judge Linda Feinberg wrote in her 27-page opinion. The couples, along with the gay rights advocacy group Garden State Equality, filed the suit in June. They claimed they were refused the right to marry by being denied equal protection under the state constitution as well as equal protection & due process under the U.S. Constitution. In November Feinberg dismissed all but one count, equal protection under the state constitution. Steven Goldstein, chairman of Garden State Equality, said Feinberg's reconsideration gives the couples more of a fighting chance in court. "The court had already upheld our claim of state equal protection," Goldstein said. "So now our case will be heard on both state & federal constitutional grounds. It's a happy day as we pursue all roads to justice, marriage equality in the courts & marriage equality via an override in the state legislature."
In Maryland yesterday the marriage equality bill passed the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee on Tuesday & is expected to be debated on the Senate floor as soon as today. Updates to Come…:)
Exclusive Audio Update with Ned Flaherty from Marriage Equality USA about the map he's created revealing the encouraging news that 42% of Americans now live in the 21 states that offer some form of legal recognition at the state level for same-gender relationships & more gay marriage in America news @ OUTTAKE VOICES™