On June 3, 2009, only an hour after the New Hampshire legislature took its final vote, marriage equality opponent Governor Lynch signed the marriage equality bill into law.  Today at 12:01 AM, January 1, 2010, the law went into effect.  New Hampshire joins Massachusetts, Connecticut, Iowa and Vermont as the 5th state respecting all residents in its marriage laws.  Congratulations New Hampshire!!

Meanwhile, just a few hundred miles southeast, the “democratic” New Jersey Assembly is making a total hash of their duty to the Garden State.  According to Garden State Equality:

The Assembly has announced there will not be an Assembly Judiciary Committee hearing on the marriage equality bill, as had been anticipated, this Monday, January 4, 2010.  Unacceptable.  Time for legislative action is winding down and it is urgent, to say the least, that we keep up the pressure.

This Monday, January 4, 2010 at 10:00 am, Garden State Equality and our partner organizations are holding an urgent rally and lobby day for marriage equality at the State House.  Meet Monday at 10:00 am in front of Garden State Equality’s Trenton office across from the State House – our Trenton office is at 110 West State Street.

Whether to hold the hearing rests on Assembly Speaker Roberts’ shoulders.  If he backed the hearing, the hearing would happen.  Here is his statement on the matter:

After more than seven hours of testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Dec. 7 and continued public debate in the weeks since, we’ve certainly had a chance to hear all sides on marriage equality legislation. I believe ample opportunity has already been given for all views to be heard and additional Assembly committee debate is not needed. I’ve advised the Senate sponsors that, if the bill is passed by the Senate, I am prepared to bring the bill directly to the Assembly floor for a vote before the end of this legislative session.

If you’re a NJ resident, contact your legislators and show up at the State House on Monday to help convince Speaker Roberts that holding this hearing is the right and necessary thing to do.  Tell him to quit hiding behind the Senate like a scared piece of sh!t.  But be polite, of course.