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N.J. Gay Marriage: The 7 Couples Suing To Marry

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Oct 25, 2006 11:51 am US/Eastern

N.J. Gay Marriage: The 7 Couples Suing To Marry

N.J. Gay Marriage Decision: CBS 2's Full Coverage

TRENTON (CBS/AP) ― Seven gay and lesbian couples sued the state in 2002 for the right to marry. Here's who they are:

-- Cindy Meneghin and Maureen Kilian met at De Paul Roman Catholic High School in Wayne in 1973 and became high school sweethearts. They have been together ever since. Meneghin is the director of Web services at Montclair State University; Kilian is a church administrator in Pompton Lakes. They live in Butler. Their son and daughter call Meneghin "Momma" and Kilian "Mommy."

-- Saundra Heath-Toby and Alicia Toby-Heath spend much of their time at the Liberation in Truth Unity Fellowship in Newark where Toby-Heath is an ordained minister. Heath-Toby, a Federal Express dispatcher, and Toby-Heath, an HIV educator, have been together since 1989.

-- Chris Lodewyks and Craig Hutchison met as college students in 1968 and have been a couple since 1971. Hutchinson is an investment banker and Lodewyks is retired. They live in Pompton Lakes.

-- Karen Nicholson-McFadden and Marcye Nicholson-McFadden have been together since 1990. Together, they own an executive search business. Karen Nicholson-McFadden is a stay-at-home mother to the couple's young son and daughter. The couple organize an annual Christmas caroling event in their Aberdeen neighborhood.

-- Mark Lewis and Dennis Winslow, both Episcopal priests, have been together for about 15 years. On legal forms, the Union City couple is listed first among the plaintiffs, which is why New Jersey's gay marriage lawsuit is known as Lewis v. Harris.

-- Suyin Lael and Sarah Lael, of South Brunswick, both legally changed their last names to Lael in 2002, just before the eldest of their three daughters entered kindergarten. Suyin Lael is a nonprofit administrator; Sarah Lael is a speech therapist.

-- Diane Marini, a building contractor in Haddonfield, remained a plaintiff after her partner of 14 years, Marilyn Maneely, died at 55 of Lou Gerhrig's disease last year. Maneely became a symbol for gay right's advocates in New Jersey as Marini fought to be able to visit her in the hospital because they were not married.

(© 2006 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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