Civil Union Bill Moves Forward in NJ

New York, NY —

A New Jersey Assembly committee has approved a bill that would allow same-sex couples the benefits of marriage, but not the title. Yesterday's move places the measure on a track for possible approval this year.

The 4-2 approval of the civil unions bill came over the objections of the dozens of people who testified in a three-hour hearing before the Judiciary Committee. Gay couples and their supporters say the measure creates a new classification for couples that stops short of marriage.

They say marriage is universally recognized and doesn't need to be explained, the way civil unions would. Opponents say civil unions are too close to full marriage rights and that those unions would undermine traditional marriage.