Garden State

New Jersey and you ... perfect together?

If you're a gay or lesbian couple, you betcha!

America Blog reports on a Zogby poll with these nice results:

A new Zogby poll shows that most New Jersey voters are sure that heterosexual marriage will survive if the civil institution is opened to gay and lesbian couples -- and they are ready for that change. From Garden State Equality:

* By 63% to 31%, New Jersey voters say they'd be fine with the state legislature upgrading civil unions to marriage equality.

* By 72% to 21%, New Jersey voters say state legislators would be in no electoral danger if they enacted marriage equality.

* By 61% to 29%, New Jersey voters say they expect the state to enact marriage equality within just a couple of years.

Zogby asked the baseline question - do you favor marriage equality versus civil unions - in two ways. Results are 48% to 45% for marriage equality in one question, 48% to 30% in another.

And a significant 35% of respondents said they would be less likely to do business with a company that denies equal benefits to gay employees. 20% said "much less likely."

While Republicans presidential candidates are of course, scowling at the possibility, and Democratic presidential candidates -except Dennis Kucinich and Mike Gravel, both long long longshots- are waffling even on civil unions, in the great state of New Jersey, things are progressing nicely.

Sen. Clinton did equivocate about "states' rights" regarding gay marriage. Well, New Jersey is one state that's right.

Full disclosure: I lived in Jersey City for a few years, got some generous funding in 1988 for a performing arts project, set my first novel, PINS, in New Jersey, and therefore have a special affection for the state.

Oh, and tomorrow night, I'm going to see the cast of Jersey Boys perform with the puppets from Avenue Q in One Night Only at the Post St. Theatre!

The casts of the hit musicals perform songs of their choice in a unique entertaining fundraiser for the The Richmond/Ermet AIDS Foundation and Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. This is a rare chance to see these talented performers cut loose and have fun for a cause. $35, $50, $75. 7:30pm. 450 Post St. 273-1620. www.richmondermet.org