Assemblyman’s Remarks before Assembly Judiciary Committee
(TRENTON) — Assemblyman Reed Gusciora (D-Mercer) issued a multimedia package Tuesday of his testimony before the Feb. 2 Assembly Judiciary Committee on the marriage equality legislation he sponsored.
The “Marriage Equality and Religious Exemption Act” (A-1) would eliminate the civil unions that have been in place in New Jersey since 2007 but have failed to provide equal treatment to the state’s same-sex couples and instead define marriage as the legally recognized union of two consenting people in a committed relationship.
It also expressly stipulates that no clergy of any religion authorized to solemnize marriage, nor any religious society, institution or organization in the state would be required to conduct any marriage in violation of their free exercise of religion.
The bill also is sponsored by Assembly Speaker Sheila Y. Oliver (D-Essex) and Assembly members Connie Wagner (D-Bergen), Mila M. Jasey (D-Essex), John F. McKeon (D-Essex), Valerie Vainieri Huttle (D-Bergen), Jason O’Donnell (D-Hudson), Deputy Speaker John S. Wisniewski (D-Middlesex) and Timothy J. Eustace (D-Bergen).
The multimedia package consists of a video of Gusciora’s testimony before the Assembly Judiciary Committee and audio of the same.
The video can be accessed directly via our website — www.assemblydems.com — or by clicking here.
The audio file is available upon request.