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The long journey for former Governor Jim McGreevey

New Jersey’s former Governor Jim McGreevey discusses coming out and the fight for equal rights.
/ Source: The Cycle

New Jersey’s former Governor Jim McGreevey discusses coming out and the fight for equal rights.

After two days of arguments in front of the Supreme Court, supporters of marriage equality wait to hear what the High Court will decide. One American who is watching closely is New Jersey’s former Governor Jim McGreevey. In 2004 he was exposed for his affair with another man. Disgraced and then divorced, he found a new path. Now he’s working as part of the Episcopal Church where he acts as a spiritual adviser to women  in prison.

“Obviously it’s a very interesting and exciting week and to go back eight years, one would never have expected to see such movement,” McGreevey said on Thursday’s show. “I think perhaps what will happen is that Justice Kennedy and there will be a 5 court majority to rule against DOMA standing and allow states to serve as incubators of change.”

“In the closet you are almost forced to create a parallel construction between who you are as an individual and your heart’s longings, and what you think you have to do to be publicly accepted,” McGreevey said. Coming out of the closet–even at the cost of his political career–liberated him, he said. What gay people want, he said, “is what all Americans want, and that is to be treated fairly and to be treated equitably.”