Some good news from my old home state

Small steps, small steps.

Trenton, NJ (AP, January 13) - Same-sex partners in New Jersey have been granted unprecedented legal, health care and financial rights under a new bill, though the measure stops short of authorizing gay marriage.

Gov. James E. McGreevey signed the state's Domestic Partnership Act on Monday, making New Jersey the fifth state to recognize same-sex partnerships and extend certain benefits to gay couples.

Under the measure, domestic partners will gain access to medical benefits, insurance and other legal rights. New Jersey also will recognize such partnerships granted in other states. ...

The law will not force private businesses to offer health coverage to same-sex partners of employees but does require insurance companies to make it available. ...

Domestic partnerships are recognized in California, Massachusetts and Hawaii, and civil unions between same-sex couples are legal in Vermont.

Footnote: The measure also includes some benefits for domestic unions between unmarried straight couples 62 and over who don't want to get married because of penalties on pensions and other financial interests. Which is also a good thing.