Asbury Park couples line up for civil union licenses in the middle of the night
Coaster Photos
Sue Abatemarco fills out paperwork for a civil union application in Asbury Park early Monday morning while her partner Julie Branin watches. City Deputy Clerk Kiki Tomek handled the paperwork with the support of City Manager Terry Reidy.
By DON STINE
Five gay couples showed up at Asbury Park City Hall Sunday night waiting until just after midnight Monday morning to officially complete applications that will legally recognize their civil unions in New Jersey.
Deputy City Clerk Kiki Tomek processed and signed off on the applications just after midnight with other city officials on hand to lend support.
We are very excited (about the civil union), especially knowing that New Jersey is one step closer to marriage equality, said Sue Abatemarco. I couldnt be happier than to be living in Asbury Park. The city has been so supportive.
Couples filing applications were: Richard Clayton and Ron Fleckenstein of Third Avenue; Sue Abatemarco and Julie Branin of Dunlewy Street; Thomas Mannix and Kevin Pilla of Locust Drive; Mark Rado and Degn Shubert of First Avenue; and Sean ODea and Brett Noorigian of Second Avenue.
Malcolm Nevias and Tom Pivinski, Emory Street, also filled out their application during the daytime on Monday when Tomeks office was from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tomek said three other couples also came in for applications during the day but she had to turn them away because they were not city residents.
The New Jersey legislature passed the civil union bill in December after the state Supreme Court ruled in October that same-sex couples must be given equal rights under the law. Gov. Jon Corzine signed the civil union bill into law a week after it was passed by the Legislature and the filing of applications became legal at midnight on Monday.
In neighboring Neptune, Deputy Mayor Randy Bishop said he filled out his application on Tuesday and went to a Superior Court judge the next day to have the mandatory 72-hour waiting period (between the time you fill out the application and can get legally married) waived.
Bishop said a judge can waive the three-day time limit if the couple already has a legal domestic partnership in place. He and his partner, Dan Margo, will have their civil union ceremony at midnight on Thursday.
Most couples filing for the civil union applications in Asbury Park said they too will be married at midnight on Thursday. A special ceremony is planned for the nuptials of several couples at the Brick Wall Restaurant on Cookman Avenue after the 72-hour waiting period is up.
Tomek, who counts many gay residents among her friends, said she has fielded dozens of phone calls from other gay couples who plan to have their civil union ceremonies in the city.
They say they feel comfortable here, she said. They say we have always been so nice to them.
All of the couples filling out applications Monday said they consider Asbury Park to be in the forefront of supporting gay civil unions. City officials said they are aware of only two other municipalities in New Jersey taking the same action at midnight on Monday: Teaneck and Lambertville.
Mark Rado and Degn Shubert said they have been through the civil union and gay marriage route before in California.
We had a civil union, then we were married but the (California) court overturned the marriage so we had a civil union again, Rado said.
They are now taking the same step in New Jersey.
We feel very welcome here and the city has been very positive about it. This is a very supportive community, he said.
Thomas Mannix and Kevin Pilla, Locust Drive, also praised the community for its support of the recent legislation.
Kiki, in particular, is to be commended for coming in at midnight on a three-day weekend to give us support. I think its pretty impressive on the part of city officials, Mannix said.
We are obviously eager to do (the civil union here) and take advantage of the first moment but I am also extremely disappointed that the (state) Supreme Court didnt come through in support of gay marriage. What the court is saying is that this action is the same as a marriage but they are calling it something different and that falls a bit short for us, Mannix said.
(Civil union) is a ticket but its a second-class ticket, he said.
According to Deputy Mayor Bishop, the civil union is exactly the same as a marriage but without the word marriage.
It extends all the legal rights and benefits of a marriage to the same-sex couple, he said.
Bishop said he believes that until the federal government recognizes same-sex marriages on a national level the civil union rights will always be just under those that a heterosexual couple can get.
I understand you can still use the same language as that in a marriage ceremony in the civil union but in the end, when that paper is signed, its still a civil union, not a marriage, he said.
And that what its all about, said Tomek, who was processing the applications at midnight.
Equal rights- its all about equal rights. Everyone should be treated the same, she said.
City Manager Terence J. Reidy, who also showed up to show his support, said he thinks the city being among the first to recognize civil unions is great.
Reidy has been referring to Monday night, the beginning of the national Presidents Day holiday, as Precedence Day in Asbury Park.
This is exactly what Asbury Park should be doing at one minute after midnight. This is exactly where I want to be right now, he said.
Brett Noorigian said he is just thrilled to be among the first to apply for the civil union.
This is such an historic day and I hope the whole country comes around and that the federal government eventually recognizes gay unions, he said.
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