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New Jersey Gov. James McGreevey annoced today that he is gay. Would that make the state gay? Lets us know how you feel about this topic.

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New Jersey governor quits, comes out as gay

McGreevey announces resignation after telling of affair

(CNN) -- Dropping a political bombshell, New Jersey Gov. James McGreevey announced his resignation Thursday after revealing that he is gay and that he had an adulterous affair with a man.

With his wife standing by his side, McGreevey -- a father of two -- spoke in calm tones as he described his struggle with his sexuality, "a certain sense that separated me from others." It was something that he said began as a child.

"At a point in every person's life, one has to look deeply into the mirror of one's soul and decide one's unique truth in the world, not as we may want to see it or hope to see it, but as it is," McGreevey said.

"And so, my truth is that I am a gay American," the Democrat said.

Speaking at a packed news conference in the Statehouse in Trenton, New Jersey, McGreevey admitted to an affair with a man and asked for his family's forgiveness.

"It was wrong. It was foolish. It was inexcusable," he said.

And McGreevey said he was stepping down from the state's highest office.

"Given the circumstances surrounding the affair and its likely impact upon my family and my ability to govern, I have decided the right course of action is to resign," McGreevey said.

His resignation will take effect November 15, and State Senate President Richard Codey, a fellow Democrat, will serve the the remainder of his term, which ends in January 2006.

If McGreevey's resignation had taken effect before September 15, state law would have required a special gubernatorial election on November 2.

McGreevey said his affair and sexuality -- "if kept secret" -- would leave the governor's office "vulnerable to rumors, false allegations and threats of disclosure."

McGreevey did not identify the man with whom he had the affair.

One Democratic strategist close to McGreevey said his speech was "well delivered and, I think, well received. But given what's ahead for him, it's downhill from here."

Even as he acknowledged his sexuality, McGreevey spoke of the "suffering and anguish" he had brought to his family and friends, saying he would "almost rather have this moment pass.

"For this is an intensely personal decision and not one typically for the public domain," McGreevey said of his revelation. "Yet, it cannot and should not pass."

U.S. Sen. Frank Lautenberg, a Democrat, said in a written statement that "my heart goes out to Gov. McGreevey and his family."

Democratic Chairwoman Bonnie Watson Coleman issued a written statement with a similar sentiment.

"Our hearts and prayers are with Gov. McGreevey and his family during this time," Coleman said. "The Democratic Party of New Jersey will remain strong and united as it stands behind the ideals and values that it has always fought to protect."

Garden State Equality, a gay rights group, called McGreevey's coming-out speech "poignant" and said its members' thoughts were with the governor and his family.

"We all know how difficult it is to come out as openly gay, whether to family or other loved ones," Garden State Equality chairman Steven Goldstein said. "No one could imagine what it's like to come out to 300 million people -- this is totally unprecedented."

Once considered a rising star in Democratic circles, McGreevey, 47, served in the state Legislature and as mayor of the town of Woodbridge, New Jersey, before winning the governorship.

McGreevey won the seat in 2001 by a wide margin over former Jersey City Mayor Bret Schundler and took office in January 2002.

His administration has been buffeted by some scandal.

A Quinnipiac University poll released August 4 showed McGreevey's approval among state voters fell sharply after two Democratic fund-raisers were indicted on federal charges in July -- one of them accused of lining up prostitutes to discredit a witness in a tax fraud investigation, the other accused of extortion.

McGreevey and his wife, Dina, have a 2-year-old daughter, and he has another daughter from a previous marriage.

McGreevey signed a bill in January that created same-sex domestic partnerships in New Jersey, but urged New Jersey officials to abide by current laws when the city of Asbury Park issued a marriage license to a same-sex couple in May.

In July, he condemned a proposed constitutional amendment that would limit marriage to heterosexual couples as "a divisive and drastic tactic."

Sheinkopf said the governor decided to resign after meeting with advisers and friends and even wrote his speech himself.

"It was the least scripted thing I've seen in 35 years in this business," Sheinkopf said. "What happens next is a transition that keeps things rolling forward, and keeps some of his initiatives in place."

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I feel bad for the guy. It is a shame we live in a country where it is often strategically beneficial for one to hide something so fundamental to one's identity. When will we realize that our public face of prude morality makes us a nation of hypocrites? It would be quite interesting to see what would happen if he came out of the closet but did not resign.

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I thought that he was very brave for being truthfull today. I think that it took a lot and I have much more respect for him. I feel bad for him actually, having to live life like that for 47 years. I think it shows a lot by him resigning. I think that he resigned because of moral reasons and cheating on his wife. He knew that he could not be a role model as a governor because he did wrong. I do wonder though if he would ever have come out if those allagations did not.

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I obviously don't pay enough attention to the news and politics.. I didn't know anything about corrupt payroll and such.. I also don't think that he did wrong by being gay, I think he did by cheating on his wife.. At least he stepped up and told the truth and resigned. He could have totally denied everything and went on as governor.

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I obviously don't pay enough attention to the news and politics.. I didn't know anything about corrupt payroll and such.. I also don't think that he did wrong by being gay, I think he did by cheating on his wife.. At least he stepped up and told the truth and resigned. He could have totally denied everything and went on as governor.

seeing how she has stayed by his side during the news conferences, she might have known all along.

i think the majority of the state would not have a problem with a gay governor, but i can imagine that there would still be some nasty protests if he continued on.

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maybe his wife was fantasizing about a threesome and pressured him to turn gay?

I obviously don't pay enough attention to the news and politics.. I didn't know anything about corrupt payroll and such.. I also don't think that he did wrong by being gay, I think he did by cheating on his wife.. At least he stepped up and told the truth and resigned. He could have totally denied everything and went on as governor.
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