Politics & Government
Hazlet Lawyer on DOMA: 'The Court Got it Right'
"I strongly agree with the decision," Laughlin said. "The court got it right."
Hazlet family lawyer Craig Laughlin said if you knew a gay couple in love, you wouldn't dream of telling them they couldn't get married.
New Jersey gay rights advocates and Democratic elected officials hailed the Supreme Court decision to strike down a law blocking benefits for same-sex couples as a major victory for equality Wednesday.
"I strongly agree with the decision," Laughlin said. "The court got it right."
In a pair of decisions Wednesday, the Supreme Court ruled that a law barring legally-married gay couples from receiving a host of federal benefits afforded to heterosexual couples is unconstitutional and paved the way for same-sex marriage to become legal in California.
In a 5-4 vote, the court struck down a provision of the Defense of Marriage Act, the law blocking benefits for gay couples, from tax breaks to pension benefits. Justice Anthony Kennedy wrote the majority opinion, saying the law violated the guarantee of equal protection under the U.S. Constitution.
In New Jersey, marriage equality has yet to hit, but Laughlin said he hopes the Supreme Court decision will help change that."New Jerseyans will finally get equal rights. I can't imagine how people who care about each other are told they can't marry."
But while the decisions were seen as a victory for gay rights groups, Garden State Equality noted New Jersey law continues to bar same-sex marriage. The group announced it would hold a rally at the statehouse in Trenton on Thursday.
“The fight must go on, and we will continue to fight it until we win,” the group said.
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Gov. Christie vetoed a gay marriage bill and has suggested letting voters decide on the issue. The Republican governor has drawn criticism from gay rights groups for his record on the issue. Christie’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
State Senator Barbara Buono, who is seeking to run against Gov. Chris Christie, said the decision puts the United States “firmly on the right side of history.”
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"Life is short, if people care for each other it shouldn't really matter."
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