NEW YORK -- New Jersey lawmakers voted to give same-sex
couples the same rights as married couples regarding inheritance and
funeral arrangements and to extend gay couples' access to health benefits
in the public sector.
The two bills were passed overwhelmingly in the state legislature on
Monday and will now be sent to Gov. Richard Codey, who is expected to sign
both.
New Jersey is one of several U.S. states that already offer same-sex
couples some legal rights as partners, though it stops short of allowing
gay marriage, which became a socially divisive issue across America during
the 2004 presidential election campaign.
One of the bills passed on Monday sets out same-sex couples' rights to
inheritance and funeral arrangements while the other deals with health
benefits for partners of employees of county and municipal governments,
school boards and county colleges.
Voters in 13 states have approved constitutional amendments in the past
year-and-a-half declaring their laws would recognize marriage only between
a man and woman.
Vermont and Connecticut recognize same-sex civil unions while
Massachusetts has legalized gay marriage.
The Hunk
