Assemblyman Reed Gusciora, the lead sponsor of marriage equality legislation in the General Assembly, on Tuesday released the following statement on the Ninth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals’ ruling that California’s Proposition 8 is unconstitutional:
“Today the Ninth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals upheld what we have been saying all along: that a referendum on the rights of minorities in this state is not only wrong, but unnecessary because these rights are already guaranteed in the Constitution.
“This is a great milestone for the many same-sex couples in California who have seen their lives tossed around like a political football. I am hopeful that the higher courts will continue to uphold this ruling.
“This is an affirmation of true equality, but more importantly, it’s an affirmation that the proper path to equal rights for same-sex couples in New Jersey is through the legislature, lest we subject our state to the type of costly and divisive campaign California underwent in 2008,” said Gusciora (D-Mercer/Hunterdon).