New Jersey is the latest state to allow gay marriage.
As of today, it became the 14th state where same-sex couples can legally wed, despite initial opposition from its governor, Chris Christie. Just hours after gay couples began marrying in New Jersey, Christie withdrew his legal challenge to the decision that gays could marry in the state.
On Friday, the state Supreme Court unanimously denied Christie’s request to temporarily prevent gay marriages until a January court date considered his appeal. New Jersey’s highest court also ruled that the state must begin granting marriage licenses to same-sex couples today.
In a statement, the governor’s office said:
Although the governor strongly disagrees with the court substituting its judgment for the constitutional process of the elected branches or a vote of the people, the court has now spoken clearly as to their view of the New Jersey Constitution, and, therefore, same-sex marriage is the law.
In a poll earlier this month, New Jersey voters, by a 2-1 margin, said Christie should drop the appeal.
North Carolina is also testing the gay marriage waters. Last week, Buncombe County’s Register of Deeds began accepting marriage applications from same-sex couples, but said he won’t grant any until he receives approval from the state attorney general.
In other news, Disney has revealed that one of its princesses is bisexual.
Though this isn’t disclosed in the animated film, the character of Mulan on the ABC’s “Once Upon a Time” is bi — and in love with Aurora of “Sleeping Beauty.” In a heartbreaking scene from this past Sunday's episode, Mulan rushed to tell Aurora how she felt only to learn that Aurora, who is married to Prince Phillip, is pregnant.
This article appears in Oct 17-23, 2013.