NJ could say 'it does' to same-sex marriage approval

All eyes in the country's debate over same-sex marriages will be locked on New Jersey Wednesday. The state Supreme Court is expected to issue its ruling whether New Jersey's constitution allows same-sex

News 12 Staff

Oct 25, 2006, 4:48 PM

Updated 6,562 days ago

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All eyes in the country's debate over same-sex marriages will be locked on New Jersey Wednesday. The state Supreme Court is expected to issue its ruling whether New Jersey's constitution allows same-sex couples to legally wed.One couple from Asbury Park has high hopes that the court will rule in favor of the marriages. Brian Banach and Jeff Lowther have been together for two-and-a-half years and like straight couples, they say they want to get married. The couple says everyone pays taxes and if they have been together a length of time, they should be able to get the same benefits heterosexual couples get.John Lafredo is one of two gay men on the Asbury Park City Council. He says he fears the court will say no to same-sex marriages. Lafredo says no matter how liberal New Jersey might appear to some, there are still a lot of conservatives in the state. The ruling falls on the same day that 70-year-old Chief Justice Deborah Poritz retires. Court-watchers and activists are attempting to figure out if the timing of the ruling gives any hints as to how the court will rule.