S3687 legally affirms the right to same-sex marriage in the state of New Jersey.
The Senate passed S3687 on December 20, 2021 by a vote of 35 to 4. We have assigned pluses to the nays because marriage is a long-running institution of human civilization that informs the moral character of our society. Marriage historically enshrined and served the family unit and was more closely linked to the church than the state. In the last 40 years, the social understanding of marriage experienced meaningful shifts that have seen the institution decline, with divorce rates now approaching 50%. Marriage should be restored to its original design and meaning: a union, in service of the family, between a man and woman before God.