The New Jersey state Senate has just voted down a same-sex marriage bill 20-14. Its a defeat for equality, and another sign that the US is a backward, bigoted nation. Despite having enacted a civil union scheme in 2006, gay couples still face significant official discrimination in New Jersey - which now will go unmended.
Still, there is a positive side: at least it got a vote. And that forced New Jersey Senators to declare where they stand. Now we all know who is a bigot and who is not, and they can be judged accordingly at the ballot box.
