Mayor presided over borough's first civil union Couples in New Jersey have begun to take advantage of new law BY TOMCAIAZZA Staff Writer Same-sex couples across the state flocked to their local municipalities last week to get "civil unionized" after the state's landmark legislation allowing same-sex couples civil unions took effect on Feb. 19. Nancy Stanley and Robin Salant, of Metuchen, tied the knot on Friday, Feb. 23, making them the first couple to receive a civil union in the history of Metuchen Borough. Mayor Edmund O'Brien presided over the couple in a small ceremony at borough hall which Stanley said was only another step in her relationship with Salant. "We've been through so many steps together," Stanley said. "This is by far the biggest step we've taken together." Salant said they filed their paperwork with the borough at 8:30 Tuesday morning, the very first moment that they could. Early tallies had Metuchen leading the way with the most civil union registrations in Middlesex county with four. O'Brien presided over another union that night. While the details of the ceremony were still being worked out, O'Brien said that it "only took a few magic words to make this official," and with that he gave the couple, who did not participate in the lawsuit that the legislation stemmed from, the fruit of years of battles in and out of court. The New Jersey Supreme Court ruled in October that it was against the Constitution of the state to not afford same-sex couples the same rights and responsibilities as heterosexual couples, but balked at calling the institution marriage, deciding, quite contentiously, to leave it up to the legislature. The court ordered the New Jersey Legislature to act quickly on legislation allowing the same rights as heterosexual couples, which it has in everything but name. The entire process took years, and many gay rights activists were not content with stopping short of the marriage moniker. Groups such as Garden State Equality have vowed to continue to fight for the name. For Salant and Stanley, they are happy that they could be the first in Metuchen to take part in history and O'Brien said that he was happy he could oblige. "It certainly is a historic moment for the borough," O'Brien said. "One wonders who were the first people married in the borough back in 1900. I am happy to be of assistance to them [Salant and Stanley]." Stanley and Salant have been together for more than ten years and received a domestic partnership several years ago in the town of Maplewood. They said that they wanted to get their civil union in Metuchen because the notoriously progressive community has always been supportive of their lifestyle. "We are happy to live in Metuchen because we know we are accepted," Salant said, "and having the mayor be delighted to officiate or preside was really affirming." Yankl Salant, brother of Robin Salant and a gay man, toasted the couple just after the ceremony and said that their relationship was an inspiration to him. "It is no secret that you are committed to each other," Yankl Salant said. "That has always been a model to me in my relationships and friendships." As of the date of Stanley and Salant's union, there were four registered civil unions in Metuchen and two in Edison still in the works. When asked if the couple would change their anniversary date, which they typically celebrate in August, to Feb. 23, they said the date was not on their minds. "The important thing is we did it and we don't care about the date," Robin Salant said.