National LGBT LGBT History History National Month Project Project Month
Digging up Henry Gerber
Baron von Steuben redux
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Oct. 4-10, 2013
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Vol. 37 No. 40
Pending appeal, marriage equality coming to New Jersey By Angela Thomas angela@epgn.com
Fed suit: Recognize out-ofstate marriages By Angela Thomas angela@epgn.com
New Jersey same-sex couples will be allowed to marry starting Oct. 21, pending an appeal from the state. In a landmark decision Sept. 27, Mercer County Superior Court Judge Mary Jacobson ruled that same-sex couples must have the right to marry to “obtain equal protection of the law under the New Jersey Constitution.” This is the first decision striking a state’s discriminatory marriage law that relies on the U.S. Supreme Court’s June ruling against the federal Defense of Marriage Act. Garden State Equality executive director Troy Stevenson said this case could be significant in leading how other states handle pending challenges to their marriage laws. “This will start to happen in jurisdiction after jurisdiction,” Stevenson told PGN. “The public is coming to acceptance of the LGBT population.” On Monday, however, New Jersey Attorney General John Hoffman appealed on behalf of the state. He also indicated he will seek a stay in the ruling until the appeal is settled, which, if granted, could push the start date back if the case is not settled by Oct. 21. Stevenson said the plaintiffs’ attorneys are already working on a response to the state appeal. “The state will be hard-pressed to prove irreparable harm and will be hard-pressed to get a stay in the jurisdiction,” he said. “Hundreds of loving couples will be getting married, so that is not viable.” Lambda Legal deputy legal director �� Hayley Gorenberg, who is handling the case, said she believes the plaintiffs have a good chance at victory. “I think our case is strong and has been throughout,” she said. “We will fight the appeal every step of the way and we have deep confidence in our PAGE 6
A local lesbian couple filed a federal lawsuit last week that could bring the fight for marriage equality in Pennsylvania one step closer to success. On Sept. 26, PAGE 23
State suit: Recognize MontCo marriages PARTY IN THE GARDEN STATE: Garden State Equality executive director Troy Stevenson celebrated with supporters at a rally at the agency’s headquarters Sept. 27 in Montclair, N.J., hours after Superior Court Judge Mary Jacobson handed down a ruling legalizing same-sex marriage in New Jersey. Garden State Equality and a group of same-sex couples, represented by Lambda Legal, sued the state in 2011, contending the state’s current civil-union system discriminates against same-sex couples. Jacobson’s ruling is the first to legalize same-sex marriage relying on the recent U.S. Supreme Court decision that overturned a key provision of the federal Defense of Marriage Act. Gov. Chris Christie’s administration has appealed the decision and a stay is possible. Photo: Associated Press/Julio Cortez
Twenty-one same-sex couples who received marriage licenses in Montgomery County this past summer sued the state last week in an effort to have their marriages recognized. The couples filed suit in Commonwealth Court Sept. 24, calling PAGE 23
PA marriage-equality bill introduced By Angela Thomas angela@epgn.com One week after a New Jersey judge paved the way for marriage equality in the Garden State, lawmakers on this side of the Delaware launched their own push for same-sex marriage. Out state Rep. Brian Sims (D-182nd Dist.) and Rep. Steve McCarter (D-154th Dist.) introduced a marriage-equality bill Oct. 3. House Bill 1686 is only the second time a bill calling for full marriage rights
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By Jen Colletta jen@epgn.com
for same-sex couples has been introduced in the Pennsylvania House; former state Rep. Babette Josephs spearheaded such legislation in 2011, but that bill did not move out of committee. McCarter and Sims announced their plan to introduce the bill this past summer and unveiled the legislation at a press conference Thursday. The bill currently has 31 cosponsors, with two more expected to join by the end of this week. The bill includes PAGE 18 support
Ballot on page 24 or go to epgn.com and click the link
CONVERGING IDEAS: LGBT demonstrators accepted an impromptu invite to march with Indian festival Parade of Chariots, Sept. 28 on the Parkway. The LGBT rally mobilized support for marriage equality and nondiscrimination, especially from College Day attendees. Organizers included Marriage Equality USA, the Delaware Valley chapter of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, The Summit Coalition of LGBT Activists and Allies and Marriage Equality for Pennsylvania, whose co-founder David Moore (pictured) was among the many rainbow-flag carriers of the day. Photo: Scott A. Drake