Lambda Legal Reacts to Rutgers-Eagleton Poll

(New York, November 2, 2006) — In reaction to the Rutgers-Eagleton poll released today which showed that the majority of all adults agree that same-sex couples should have all the rights different-sex married couples enjoy but also showed a majority supporting civil unions over marriage, Lambda Legal issued the following statement:

“We aren’t surprised by these initial numbers, because we’ve been through this before in Massachusetts where polling was down initially but then went back up after people heard from same-sex couples. Our voices have not yet been heard in New Jersey,” said Kevin Cathcart, Executive Director at Lambda Legal the organization that represented the plaintiffs resulting in the New Jersey Supreme Court decision last week. “Once we help people in New Jersey to understand why civil unions aren’t equal we’re confident polling will trend in our direction and justice will prevail.”

“Let’s not race to the wrong conclusion before the full debate has taken place,” Cathcart added.

Lambda Legal represents 13 plaintiffs in a lawsuit seeking marriage for same-sex couples. Last week the New Jersey Supreme Court issued the first opinion on marriage equality in the nation’s history that was unanimous in finding that a state unconstitutionally discriminated against same-sex couples but fell short in identifying a remedy. The Court gave the New Jersey State Legislature 180 days to act on the decision to grant same-sex couples the rights and benefits enjoyed by different-sex married couples but left it up to the legislators to decide in the first instance whether to call it marriage or some other scheme like civil unions.

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Lisa Hardaway 212-809-8585 ext.266

Lambda Legal is a national organization committed to achieving full recognition of the civil rights of lesbians, gay men, bisexuals, transgender people and those with HIV through impact litigation, education and public policy work.