Why Equal Marriage Matters in New Jersey

UCM President, Sabine Von Aulock and Rev. Charles Blustein Ortman address the rally (click for larger image).

Rev. Charlie Ortman with neighboring Rabbi Elliot Tepperman.

The 10,000th person (reconized with entire family) to attend one of NJ's Town Meetings for equal marriage rights!

Photos by Colleen North.

The Rev. Charles Blustein Ortman, Unitarian Church of Montclair
October 25, 2006

"The house will be filled to over-brimming as we move forward in creating the kingdom come, the beloved community."

Tonight at 7:00 PM a group of five hundred to seven hundred persons from across the state of New Jersey will gather in our church to assess and celebrate today's ruling by the New Jersey Supreme Court regarding equal marriage rights in our state. The ruling seems to be a bit ambiguous but a constitutional lawyer in our congregation assures me that the rights of gay and lesbian couples will now be held equal to any rights of heterosexual couples. Whether or not their relationships can be celebrated as "marriages" or as "civil unions" will be determined by the legislature over the next one hundred-eighty days. The label 'marriage' would have been a good touch and I trust it will yet be applied, but short of it, this remains a huge step on the journey towards justice.

How do I feel at this moment? Tears came to my eyes as I realized the significance of the ruling. The Unitarian Church of Montclair has been a Welcoming Congregation for fifteen years. For the past three years we have worked hard to secure the full rights of gay and lesbian couples. We have been active partners with the Garden State Equality initiative. The congregation has encouraged me, through our shared ministry, as I have spoken to the state legislature and driven up to New Paltz in New York to participate in the ceremonial weddings that were held there to challenge that state's discriminatory laws. My congregation celebrated as last year I was recognized by the Gay and Lesbian Coalition of New Jersey as the Spiritual Leader of the Year.

I am proud that Garden State Equality has chosen our church home to host this evening's statewide rally. The house will be filled to over-brimming with gays and straights together celebrating this long-awaited moment as we move forward in creating the kingdom come, the beloved community.

The significance of this ruling for me is that, at this point in time, gay and lesbian couples and families can begin to take their rightful and legal place in all the institutions of our state. That's huge! While homophobia will hardly disappear at this juncture, it is that unfortunate social ailment which begins to become less visible today. Today we have indeed found a good bit more justice, a greater love for kindness, and even more cause to walk humbly in the ways of a Spirit of Life that embraces us all.

Unitarian Universalist President Commends Court Ruling in NJ Marriage Case

Freedom to Marry, for All People

Unitarian Universalist Association
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