STATEWIDE — State Sen. and North Bergen Mayor Nicholas Sacco said Thursday that he will oppose the “Freedom of Religion and Equality in Civil Marriage Act” when it comes up for a vote in the state Senate, after the scheduled vote on Thursday was cancelled. The legislation would make same-sex marriages legal in New Jersey.
While other Hudson County Democrats support the bill, Sacco said that he supports civil unions because of the equal legal rights they provide, and said he performs them in North Bergen Town Hall. However, “The word marriage, I feel, is between people of the opposite sex, a man and a woman, and because I feel that way and because I feel that the rights [of same-sex couples in civil unions] are already protected, I feel very comfortable,” said Sacco.
According to published reports, the sponsors, Senators Raymond J. Lesniak and Loretta Weinberg, both Democrats, withdrew the bill from the Senate agenda, stating that they would first like to allow a hearing in the Assembly.