Lawmakers in the Garden State this afternoon voted 56-19 in favor of creating civil unions, The Associated Press reported.
Under orders from the New Jersey Supreme Court to give equal benefits to same-sex couples, members of the Assembly chose civil unions instead of gay "marriage" as the means to comply with the court's order.
Last month the justices ruled that the state must either allow same-sex couples to marry or create civil unions that provide the same legal rights and benefits.
Civil unions are legal partnerships that allow gay couples all the protections and benefits of marriage, but which stop short of being called "marriage." Both Vermont and Connecticut have similar civil-union laws and California has a similar domestic-partnership law.
The New Jersey Senate is expected to vote on the bill soon. If it passes, the legislation would be sent to Gov. Jon Corzine for signature. If he signs the bill, which he has promised to do, it would take effect 60 days later.
