Politics & Government

Red Bank Couples Sweet on DOMA Decision

Sugarush owners Chris Paseka and Jesse Bello Paseka and Red Bank Councilman Ed Ziprich see DOMA slam as a major step in the direction of gay marriage equality.

By Elaine Van Develde

Never mind the sweet things they're surrounded by all day at their Red Bank business. The sweetest thing of all to Sugarush owners Chris Paseka and Jesse Bello-Paseka was hearing on their third anniversary the news that the U.S. Supreme Court ruled against the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA).

"Good Morning All!! Today is a very SWEET day for us around here!!!" the couple said on their store's Facebook page Wednesday. "Jesse & I (Chris) celebrate 3 years married and today the Supreme Court deemed DOMA unconstitutional (as well as Prop 8 in Cali). It is a proud day here at Sugarush. Sending so much love out to you all."

Jesse and Chris, like many gay couples in the area, had a marriage ceremony and consider themselves married, yet they have not been able to enjoy the benefits of heterosexual married couples.

Red Bank Councilman Ed Ziprich is in the same situation. He and his longtime partner JP Nicolaides "married" in Riverside Gardens in 2011 right before the first gay couple said their official vows in New York when gay marriage became legal.

Both couples have civil unions, but they're pushing for more — a legal marriage with all the legally binding trimmings.

And, to them, the DOMA decision is the first major step in paving the way to that.

"Now we have to get NJ to pass the law so we can actually take advantage of the federal decision," Chris Paseka said in response to Facebook notes of congratulations on the couple's anniversary.

And Ziprich, who is also running for state Assembly, echoed that sentiment, taking it one political step further with the circulation of his own official statement.

Thanking those in New Jersey who continue to fight to bring marriage equality to the state, he said: "June 26th 2013 is an historic day for equal rights in America. Today, the Supreme Court of the United States weakened prejudice against LGBT Americans. The federal government will now give benefits to all married couples, regardless of sexual orientation, and California will resume marrying LGBT couples.

"By denying all couples equal rights, we are weakening families. No children should be discriminated against because of who their parents love or what their families look like.  While our fight to end discrimination continues, these rulings are a triumph for civil rights."

And Ziprich joined in a sweet celebration of the milestone marked by celebratory "equality cupcakes" concocted by the Sugarush guys.
 
"Can I pick up a dozen?" he asked when the special cupcake announcement was made on Facebook.

The "celebration confetti cupcakes topped with vanilla butter cream, rainbow glitter, an equality symbol and a little sparkle" are available at the store. "For every purchase of these today, we will add those profits to our donation to The Trevor Project donation at the end of the month from SUGARUSH SHARES," Paseka said on Facebook.

Sweet.



Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here