NJ mayor to defy civil union law?

  Eyewitness News

(Bagota - WABC, December 21, 2006) (WABC) -- New Jersey Governor Jon Corzine made it official today. Civil unions are now allowed in the state.

But one mayor is already saying he won't perform them.

Eyewitness News reporter Toni Yates has more.

With the stroke of a pen, Governor Corzine made it legal for civil unions to be performed in and recognized by the state of New Jersey.

"The treatment under the law requires that you perform both if you perform either," Corzine said.

The civil union law takes effect 60 days from today's signing. That's February 19, and couples can be united 72 hours after obtaining a license. The ceremony can be performed by clergy, judges, a county clerk, mayor or deputy mayor. At least one has already said he won't do it.

Same-sex unions couples can obtain a license and be civil unioned in the borough of Bogota, but one things is for sure. The current mayor will not be performing the ceremony.

"It's my personal choice, and maybe a lot of others' personal choice," Bogota Mayor Steve Lonegan said. "And I think that needs to be respected. That's what is paramount here."

"I understand it's a knee-jerk reaction," attorney Felice Londa said.

Legal minds like Londa have already been sizing up the impact.

"The reality is, we know that's a constitutional violation," she said. "We have an absolute right to equal protection under the law."

Londa says officials refusing to officiate a gay union will be violating anti-discrimination laws and can be fined. Lonegan calls it strong arming.

"I think every American should be very concerned when government uses force to implement their new values and their new idea of morality," he said.

One resident did not agree with the mayor.

"If you're really going to honor the constitution and equality, you can't inject your own personal opinion," Teaneck resident Gerard Gilliam said.

It may be difficult, if not impossible to force the mayor to comply. From his perspective, more like impossible.

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