Crist supports civil unions but not gay marriage, and was a somewhat lukewarm supporter of Florida's Amendment 2, which passed in November and amended Florida's constitution to ban gay marriage. Crist has also stated that he opposes any change to Florida's longstanding ban on gay adoptions.
Governor Charlie Crist has said he opposes any change to Florida's ban on gay adoption. He and other Republican lawmakers say a traditional family provides the best environment for children.
Hi, my name is _____________ and I am one of Senator/Assembley(wo)man ___________________'s constituents in ______________ (your town) and I'd like to leave a message.
I'm calling today because I support marriage equality for same-sex couples in New Jersey, and I'd like to know why so many states are ahead of us in enacting legislation. Yesterday (April 29th), New Hampshire's legislature approved a marriage equality bill in their state. I think it's clear that the time is now for New Jersey to provide equal rights for same-sex couples. Please tell the Senator/Assembley(wo)man that I support same-sex marriage equality in New Jersey and he/she should too!
The Star-Ledger, Friday, April 3, 2009
COUNTRY CLUB SNUB SPURS CALL FOR EQUALITY
Gay couple says marriage would have prevented misunderstanding
By Paul Brubaker
When Michael Norton responded to the Glen Ridge Country Club's advertisement for new members, all he wanted was a pool here he could keep cool this summer.
But when Norton asked if a membership would include his domestic partner -- the same way the club allows married members to include their spouses on their memberships -- a club administrator gave him the cold shoulder.
"It was unbelievable. I thought I was kicked in the stomach," Norton, 58, of Bloomfield said yesterday.
Barry Schrager, president of the country club's nine-member board, said Norton and his partner, Stewart D. Grossman, 62, were victims of an unfortunate misunderstanding that stemmed from the employee's error in stating the club's membership policy. The club abides by state law, which recognizes same-sex couples as civil unions and domestic partners, he said.
Grossman and his partner did not pursue a membership, but as the two men are preparing to file allegations with the N.J. Division of Civil Rights against the 115-year-old club, they say the problem is bigger than just one country club's gatekeeper. Their situation would have been avoided if state laws would allow them to say they are married.
"The equality is in the word," Grossman said. "If you tell people you're married, people know what that means."
Stephen Hyland, a Westwood family law attorney who has many gay and lesbian couples as clients, said the Glen Ridge Country Club incident could be attributed to the legal prohibition of the word "marriage" with regard to same-sex couples.
"If this couple had been able to marry, then there would not have been any need to explain anything further," Hyland said. "On the other hand, if you have to leave it up to an individual, then these things are going to pop up."
Norton e-mailed Amy Sikkerboll, the club's controller, on March 23 asking about membership fees for the club's house and pool, according to an e-mail exchange provided by the couple's attorney. He had read the club's advertisement in a community newspaper calling for new members.
Norton later sent a follow-up message asking if Grossman would be included in the membership.
Sikkerboll responded with an e-mail stating "Memberships include spouses but not significant others."
In a later message, Sikkerboll wrote, "This is a very old rule still in force that says couples must be married. There is ongoing discussion at the board level and hopefully it will be changed in the near future."
Sikkerboll did not immediately return a phone call seeking comment. Schrager, the club's board president, released a statement on Thursday saying the club's policy is to consider all applicants without reference to race, religion or gender. He added that the club recognized all couples sanctioned by state law, including domestic partnerships and civil unions.
"This has been and continues to be the policy of Glen Ridge Country Club," Schrager stated.
In a telephone interview, Schrager said that Sikkerboll's e-mailed statements about the club's policies were incorrect. "The truth is, this club is very different. It's a very welcoming environment. We welcome people of all backgrounds," Schrager said. "It's kind of ironic that this occurred."
David Wald, spokesman for the state Division of Civil Rights, said that authorities were aware of the situation. An investigation would not begin until a formal complaint was filed.
Steven Goldstein, chair of Garden State Equality, said Norton and Grossman's experience at the country club was not unique, and that the organization has received thousands of complaints of discrimination against domestic partners. "This case is Exhibit A of why we at Garden State Equality are calling for marriage equality," Goldstein said. "This should be a wake-up call to every one of the 120 state legislators. Wake up and smell the inequality that same-sex couples endure."
Schrager said the Glen Ridge Country Club changed its membership policy more than a decade ago to include women.
Asked if the club ever excluded groups other than women from membership Schrager said, "There is no institutional memory. As the laws have evolved, we've evolved."
So, my gay friends. While you are picketing the Mormon Church in New York as a result of an amendment that has already passed in California, there is an actual state Supreme Court hearing in less than a month in the state of Iowa. You know... the state that just swung hard for Barack Obama. And while this is not something that requires a vote by the people that we need to campaign for, it certainly seems like a more advantageous use of our time and effort to bring forth visibility there.Same-sex marriage in the U.S. state of Iowa was allowed for a short time from August 30 to August 31, 2007, in Polk County as a result of a ruling by Robert Hanson, a judge in the Polk County District Court, in Varnum v. Brien.
The ruling was made as a result of a suit brought against Polk County by six same-sex couples who had been denied marriage licenses. Hanson's ruling states, in part, thatCouples, such as plaintiffs, who are otherwise qualified to marry one another may not be denied licenses to marry or certificates of marriage or in any other way prevented from entering into a civil marriage... by reason of the fact that both person comprising such a couple are of the same sex.
Polk County has appealed the decision to the Iowa Supreme Court, which will hear arguments in the case on December 9, 2008.
I used to have respect for the gay community until I saw their reactions to this proposition. You didn't lose because the Mormon's financed proposition 8, you lost because 52% of voting Californians voted for it to pass.You abused the court systems to override the voice of the people, and the people fought back. And it is somehow the Mormon's fault?
Maybe instead of whining about how you lost and trying to point fingers of blame, you should keeping working with the people to explain your cause.
Explain to them why marriage is important to you. It isn't just about the rights and you all know it. California law provides most of the rights that marriage provides through civil unions. If it were about rights, you'd be fighting to have all of the rights that married couples have, not a complete redefinition of the institution.
I'm guessing it isn't about rights, as much as it is about commitment. You want to be able to let your significant other know that you are committed to them and only them. But is this really the best approach to get this done?
Be civil. You'll get more respect from the community if you do. Otherwise you will hurt your cause with people who sit on the fence like me, because instead of looking like patient, mature, rational adults, you'll look like the little kid in the grocery store who throws a fit because his parents wouldn't let him have candy. You'll just annoy everyone.
Posted by: Dan at November 10, 2008 4:05 PM
Posts
All Comments
