Politics & Government

'We're Just Overjoyed': Union County Advocates React to DOMA Decision

Patch asked local gay rights leaders for their thoughts on today's Supreme Court decision.


By Jessica Remo
Reporting by Union County editors Elizabeth Alterman, Nicole Bitette, Caitlin Mahon and Jessica Remo.
After the U.S. Supreme Court today struck down the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act, Patch turned to local gay rights leaders for their thoughts. 

Summit resident Rev. Tracy Sprowls-Jenks is the minister of the First Unitarian Society of Plainfield, a liberal church that has long stood up for civil rights issues since its founding in 1889. 

"We have been very active in this issue and we’re just overjoyed," Sprowls-Jenks told Patch. "Our denomination has been supporting LGBT folks for decades. I do more civil unions than hetero unions and we were the first church to ordain transgender people. We stand on the side of love and we will continue to do that. We are overjoyed that the Supreme Court did what we knew is valid and fair."

Janice Gossman, art teacher and Gay-Straight Alliance moderator at Arthur L. Johnson High School in Clark, says there is still a long way to go when it comes to gay rights.

"This is an important victory in the fight for equality," Gossman told Patch. "As wonderful as this is, there is still work to be done. Until federal law gives gay couples the right to marry in every state, there will continue to be discrimination in the states that ban same-sex marriage. So, while we have come a long way on this issue, especially during the past few years, we still have a long way to go until our whole country has marriage equality."  

Vanessa Southern, minister at The Unitarian Church in Summit, says the decision transported her back to December, when she officiated the first same-sex wedding in the West Point Chapel for Penny Gnesin and Sue Fulton. Fulton was a member of the first class of women at West Point and helped start “Nights Out,” which is the group that helped to fight for the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” and supported closeted, at that point, gay and lesbian service people. 

"In the chapel, sitting together, and on the dance floor, celebrating, were all these couples, one member of which was in his or her dress uniforms," writes Southern. "Soldier and civilian, living the military life together, or were they? I mean, here were soldiers willing to risk their lives, giving their heart and soul and bodies to their nation, but the truth is that they left their loved ones behind to second-class citizenship. No survivor benefits if they lost everything they loved in friendly fire or IED attack. That was unworthy of us as a nation. ... Today is a victory. For love. For commitment. I think it’s a fabulous success for the gutsy work of being committed in love that we all commit to when we say our vows, and our nation needs to honor that because it’s the glue that holds the world together."

American Atheists, a Cranford organization focused on fighting for the civil liberties of atheists and the separation of church and state, joined advocates in the celebration of the Supreme Court’s decision.

Public Relations Director Dave Muscato told Patch he is thrilled with the news. 

"People cite religious reasons for being against gay marriage, but to that we say, there are no religious reasons, only religious excuses," added Muscato. "If gay marriage is against your religion and you're gay and value your religion more than getting married, then don't get married. I'm disappointed that religious influences still have a hold on so many states, but this is a step in the right direction and I'm proud of America today."

President David Silverman said the government’s objection of gay marriage is clearly rooted in religion.

“America is not a theocracy, and religious bigotry has no place in American law,” he said in a release. “Our mission is separation of religion and government, and this is a day of great victory for us, for the future, for what it means to be an American. I am proud of America and of humanity today.”

On Facebook and Twitter, Patch readers also responded enthusiastically to the decision. 

"It's about time. My relationship with my wife and child should not be lesser than any hetero relationship. On ANY level." - Kerry Smith, Garwood

"I am straight and THRILLED! Now we need to get NJ on board and legalize marriage equality." - Karen Strausberg Castor, Springfield

"No more DOMA! Pride is going to be insane this Sunday!" - Danielle Barany, Avenel

"It's great for the few states where equal rights are for all. My marriage is still not recognized here in NJ. I get none of the benefits hetero couples get including not getting my wife's medical benefits." – Judith DeCrosta, Woodbridge

"Regardless of your opinion on gay marriage (which I do support), I think DOMA was just a bad law. We should never restrict the rights of one group of people over another." - Joanna Hurley, Scotch Plains

"One word. AWESOME!!!!!" - Jeffrey Rust, Westfield

What do you think of the DOMA decision? Tell us in the comments. 


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here