Erpenbach Statement: New Jersey Supreme Court Decision

I applaud the New Jersey Supreme Court in their directive to the New Jersey Legislature to provide rights and benefits to gay and lesbian couples.

Rep. Mark Gundrum and others have issued statements clearly distorting the Court’s directive. Sadly, they perceive it to be their job to scare the voters of Wisconsin into thinking that the institution of marriage is under attack from the gay and lesbian community, which is simply not true.

Sadly, he and others also perceive it to be their job to rally the conservative base of their party and get them to the polls. In doing so; Rep. Gundrum and others are appealing to the lowest common denominator in us all, ignorance.

Rep. Gundrum and others expect gay and lesbian couples to abide by Wisconsin laws, all of them, and pay all of the taxes and fees in Wisconsin, but do not want to grant the privileges guaranteed to all Wisconsinites who do so.

I have no doubt that Rep. Gundrum and others believe in the institution of marriage, as do we all. But, I am not so sure he and others believe in equal protection under the law, as should we all.

I am sure that all marriages, existing and future, including those second, third, fourth…marriages will survive this all-out, massive attack of shock and awe proportions from those in the gay and lesbian community, who happen to live in New Jersey.