November 6, 1998
For Immediate Release

Contacts:

Gina Reiss, Executive Director NJLGC 732-828-6772
Jon and Michael Galluccio 201-587-9258
Gunnar Mengers, PFLAG-201-265-9369
The Diocese of Newark 973-430-9900

Even though Alaska and Hawaii initiative battles are won, the legal fights will continue in Alaska and Hawaii and in Vermont, a same-sex case is before the state Supreme Court. Many today, joined the New Jersey Lesbian and Gay Coalition including PFLAG, the Diocese of Newark, Jon and Michael Galluccio, to issue a joint statement in support of this national day of action for the freedom to marry after Hawaii's and Alaska's ballot initiatives. "On the surface, this looks like an enormous setback, but this is not the final word. We are confident that many minds will change in the process of the continued debate. I am confident that gays and lesbians will win the right to marry in the face of what the voters said this week," stated Gunner Mengers, Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays. "We are deeply disappointed with this week's results in Hawaii and Alaska. The Freedom to marry is a basic human right. Marriage is an important personal choice, that belongs with couples in love, not politicians or the state. This is an unprecedented aim at blocking lesbian and gay couples from civil rights, but our legal and legislative fights will continue" said Gina Reiss, Executive Director of the New Jersey Lesbian and Gay Coalition. The Episcopal Diocese of Newark supports the goal of the National Freedom to Marry Coalition to make legal marriage available to same gender couples as it is to heterosexual couples. "We believe that the denial of the right of legal marriage to a segment of the human family based solely on the givenness of their sexual orientation is not just wrong, it is an evil that can be justified only by a continuing ignorance and prejudice, stated Bishop Spong, Rev. Mckelvey and Rev Croneberger in a joint statement today. Jon and Michael Galluccio, successful plaintiffs in last year's case against the Division of Youth and Family Services to jointly adopt their son Adam also support this day of action not only for their family but for many families across this nation. "Almost one year ago, in the matter of adoption, the State of New Jersey gave gay men and women a huge leap towards equality. The importance of the adoption victory in New Jersey is equally as important as the same-sex marriage setbacks in Hawaii and Alaska, it has once again opened a national dialogue on issues only whispered about only a decade ago." We are confident that, as America gets acquainted with their gay and lesbian brothers, sisters, neighbors and friends it will become more difficult to discriminate against us. Progress does not always occur in huge leaps but sometimes comes in the changing of a single mind." Jon and Michael Galluccio. Currently 29 states enacted anti-gay marriage legislation to discriminate against gay couples. Initiative in Hawaii passed 69% to 28% and in Alaska 69% to 28%.