Civil Unions Official in New Jersey

TRENTON, NJ - New Jersey's governor signed legislation Thursday making his state the third in the country to offer civil unions to gay couples, providing them with most of the same rights and responsibilities of marriage couples - except for the name itself. The new law will go into effect on February 19.

"We must recognize that many gay and lesbian couples in New Jersey are in committed relationships and deserve the same benefits and rights as every other family in this state," Gov. Jon S. Corzine said during the signing of the measure.

The new law comes after the New Jersey Supreme Court in October ordered the Legislature to put in place legislation that would guarantee gay couples be granted the same rights as married couples.

Gay couples generally welcome the new law, but some fair naming it "civil union" instead of "marriage" will create a different, inferior institution.

The civil unions law grants gay couples adoption, inheritance, hospital visitation and medical decision-making rights and the right not to testify against a partner in state court.

They won't, however, be entitled to the same federal benefits as married couples because of the 1996 "Defense of Marriage Act" (DOMA) that defines marriage as between a man and a woman. For example, gay partners won't be able to collect deceased partners' Social Security benefits.

Seen here embracing Garden State Equality head Steven Goldstein, Senator Loretta Weinberg said she expected those rights to advance in name within five years: "Not too far down the road, these rights for same-sex couples will be known, as they should, under the banner of marriage."