Gay Marriage Legalized in New Jersey
By:   //  News Briefs, US News

It was a thrilling Monday morning for gay couples in New Jersey. Across the state, same-sex marriages were officially sanctioned after the State Supreme Court rejected Governor Christie’s administration’s request to delay implementation of the policy. With this decision, New Jersey becomes the 14th state to recognize same-sex wedding ceremonies.

To the strains of a single protester, seven gay couples and two heterosexual couples gathered for wedding ceremonies at Newark’s City Hall. The protester was removed after shouting, “This is unlawful in the eyes of God and Jesus Christ.” Mayor Cory Booker continued officiating the wedding, declaring Gabriela Celeiro and Liz Salerno “lawful spouses.”

The New Jersey gay weddings were thrown together hastily in the wake of the Court’s decision, allowing couples to unite who have been waiting years, sometimes decades, for the chance to marry their partner. Today’s weddings are the culmination of a lower court ruling last month that decreed New Jersey must recognize same-sex marriages beginning today. Governor and possible 2016 presidential candidate, Chris Christie, had asked the State Supreme Court to delay the decision until an appeal is resolved. While the Court agreed to take up the appeal in January, it refused to delay the start of marriages. (Derek Dowell – VNN) (Image: Flickr | Pargon)

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