Assembly Speaker Sheila Y. Oliver (D-Essex/Passaic) released the following statement Wednesday on the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to strike down the federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA):
“Today’s ruling is a tremendous victory for equality. I have long said that there is no place for discrimination in our laws or our constitution and this ruling affirms that.
“DOMA’s discrimination went well beyond just the ability for same-sex couples to get married. Today’s decision illuminates the layers of discrimination that have been allowed to exist under this federal ban, the roughly one thousand discriminatory and financially-costly practices that have affected every facet of same-sex couples’ lives.
“This is a major step forward and will hopefully serve as a springboard for other states struggling to achieve equality, namely New Jersey.
“I would hope that this decision will make Gov. Christie and Republican members of our legislature take a circumspect look at the many ways in which their denial of support has allowed discrimination to continue to flourish in our state and recognize that it’s not too late to change this,” said Oliver.