NJ Senate Committee Passes Marriage Equality Bill 7-6

The New Jersey State Senate Judiciary Committee, consisting of 8 Democrats and 5 Republicans voted 7-6 to send the marriage equality bill, S1967, to the floor of the State Senate on Monday after more than 7 hours of debate.

Blue Jersey summarized the committee thusly:

Paul Sarlo (D-Bergen): Chairman, opponent of marriage equality. Doesn't have a law degree.
John Girgenti (D-Passaic): Vice Chairman
Nia Gill (D-Essex): Black Senator from Montclair, a diverse college town with a large gay population. Strong supporter of marriage equality
Ray Lesniak (D-Union): Sharp, articulate lawmaker who led the fight to abolish the death penalty in New Jersey. Strong supporter of marriage equality.
Nick Scutari (D-Union): a supporter of marriage equality.
Bob Smith (D-Middlesex): a supporter of marriage equality. Smith represents a liberal district in Central NJ which includes New Brunswick and Piscataway.
Brian Stack (D-Hudson): a supporter of marriage equality. Stack is also mayor of Union City, and an powerful Hudson County political boss.
Loretta Weinberg (D-Bergen): the sponsor of the bill and a progressive stalwart in the legislature.
Bill Baroni (R-Mercer): very smart, well-liked Republican, and a supporter of marriage equality
Christopher Bateman (R-Somerset)
Jennifer Beck (R-Monmouth): a wild card, and an up-and-comer in the Republican party.
Gerald Cardinale (R-Bergen): probably the most outspoken opponent on the committee. A dentist by trade; has no law degree.
Joe Kyrillos (R-Monmouth): former R party chair, probably an opponent.

Sarlo and Girgenti were two Democrats who voted against the bill, while Baroni was the only Republican, for the bipartisan total of 7-6. The vote on the floor of the Senate will be on Thursday December 10th. Democrats hold a 23-17 advantage in the chamber but the vote tally on the marriage equality is unknown.

After last week's stunning 24-38 defeat in a body with 32 Democrats and 30 Republicans of New York's marriage equality bill due to traitorous Democrats and cowardly Republicans, LGBT activists are more than a little nervous about this week's vote on marriage.