Editing Ocean Grove, New Jersey (section)

==Gay relations==
From the late 1990s through 2000s, Ocean Grove saw the opening of a large number of gay-owned restaurants, hotels, and stores.<ref name=rebirth/> According to ''[[The New York Times]]'', Ocean Grove's gay and Methodist populations coexisted peacefully until a 2007 controversy over whether gay couples could conduct civil unions at the Camp Meeting Association's Boardwalk Pavilion. Previously, the Association sought to realize income from its structures by renting them as wedding venues. There were no religious restrictions placed on the ceremonies. Also according to the ''Times'', "Ocean Grove has long been considered a community that embraced gay residents." In 2007, a representative of [[Garden State Equality]], an LGBT rights advocacy organization, said: "I'm hearing from gay people all over the country who thought Ocean Grove was the leading light for gay tolerance and that's not the case anymore."<ref name=taxbreak/>

In 2012, Christian actor [[Kirk Cameron]] gave a lecture in Ocean Grove on the subject of strengthening marriage.<ref>{{cite news |last=Spoto |first=MaryAnn |title=Kirk Cameron appearance in Ocean Grove draws protests from gay supporters |url=http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2012/07/kirk_cameron_appearance_in_oce.html |access-date=December 30, 2013 |newspaper=The Star-Ledger |date=July 28, 2012}}</ref> Cameron's lecture sparked a protest by gay rights activists. After Cameron's speech, a lunch was arranged between members of the Camp Meeting Association and members of the gay community. Camp Meeting Association President Dale Whilden said, "This is an opportunity to show that we respect them." Democratic congressman [[Frank Pallone]] attended the event. [[Steven Goldstein (activist)|Steven Goldstein]] of [[Garden State Equality]] noted: "We may not agree on everything, but we are, today, starting to see each other as human beings."<ref>{{cite news |last=Moore |first=Chadwick |title=In Methodist Stronghold, a Dialogue on Gay Rights |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/02/nyregion/in-ocean-grove-methodist-stronghold-a-dialogue-on-gay-rights.html |access-date=December 30, 2013 |newspaper=The New York Times |date=August 1, 2012}}</ref>

In 2013, the [[Human Rights Campaign]], an LGBT rights advocacy group, included Ocean Grove in its Municipal Equality Index, a study that scores 291 American cities based on their inclusivity of LGBT people. Ocean Grove scored 77 out of 100, representing the second highest score for cities located in New Jersey.<ref>{{cite news |title=Municipal Equality Index 2013 |url=http://www.hrc.org/resources/entry/mei-2013-see-your-citys-score |access-date=December 30, 2013 |newspaper=Human Rights Campaign}} Note that Ocean Grove is listed and the encompassing Neptune Township is not, despite the fact that Ocean Grove is not a municipality and therefore most of the criteria that contribute to the index are the responsibility of the encompassing Neptune Township.</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Bartlett |first=Jill |title=Asbury ranks low on list of state's LGBT friendly cities Ocean Grove rated more LGBT friendly in comparison |url=http://asburyparksun.com/asbury-ranks-low-on-list-of-states-lgbt-friendly-cities/ |access-date=December 30, 2013 |newspaper=Asbury Park Sun |date=November 19, 2013}}</ref>

In July 2022 the CMA unveiled the design for the new fishing pier, which had been destroyed by Hurricane Sandy, in the form of a cross. Some members of the LGBTQ+ and secular community were upset that neighborhood input was not sought before the plans were finalized and that the donors were not informed of the design ahead of time. They reached out to local and state officials hoping to delay the start of construction until the matter could be fully reviewed.<ref>Roman, Jackie. [https://www.nj.com/monmouth/2022/08/jersey-shore-pier-in-shape-of-cross-in-deeply-religious-town-raises-concerns.html], NJ Advance Media for [[NJ.com]], August 22, 2022. Accessed September 16, 2022. "Jersey Shore pier in shape of cross in deeply religious town raises concerns."</ref>

===Civil union controversy===
In 2007, two lesbian couples asked to have their civil union ceremonies at the OGCMA's Boardwalk Pavilion. According to ''[[The New York Times]]'', "the couples' requests were rejected, and they complained to the state's Division on Civil Rights, which began a discrimination investigation."<ref name=rebirth>{{cite news |last=Capuzzo |first=Jill |title=Civil Union Dispute Pits Methodist Retreat Against Gays Who Aided in Its Rebirth |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/03/nyregion/03ocean.html |access-date=December 30, 2013 |newspaper=The New York Times |date=September 3, 2007}}</ref> The complaint stated that [[Scott Rasmussen]], on behalf of the OGCMA, informed the couple it would not permit them to use the OGCMA's facilities for a civil union.<ref name=Schwebber>{{cite news |last=Schwebber |first=Nate |title=The Week in New Jersey |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/24/nyregion/nyregionspecial2/24weeknj.html |access-date=December 19, 2013 |newspaper=New York Times |date=June 24, 2007}}</ref> In 2008, the New Jersey Division of Civil Rights found that there was probable cause to credit one of the two couples' complaints, but rejected the other.<ref>{{cite book |last=Fleming |first=James |title=Ordered Liberty: Rights, Responsibilities, and Virtues |year=2013 |publisher=Harvard University Press |page=323 |author2=McLain, Linda}}</ref><ref>Spoto, MaryAnn. [https://www.nj.com/news/2008/12/judge_rules_monmouth_church_gr.html "State sides with lesbian couple in fight against Ocean Grove association"], NJ Advance Media for [[NJ.com]], December 30, 2008. Accessed August 28, 2022. "The state Division on Civil Rights ruled Sunday a lesbian couple can move forward with a discrimination complaint against Ocean Grove for refusing to let them use an oceanfront pavilion for a civil union."</ref>

In an attempt to halt the state's investigation, the OGCMA filed a federal suit.<ref>{{cite news |last=Capuzzo |first=Jill |title=Church Group Complains of Civil Union Pressure |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/14/nyregion/14civil.html |access-date=December 30, 2013 |newspaper=The New York Times |date=August 14, 2007}}</ref> In the suit, the OGCMA wrote that it would be "thrust into government compelled expressive association with those who promote same-sex 'civil unions'" if it is forced to allow them at its facilities, and "such forced association would severely compromise the Association's desire to communicate to the general public a message consistent with its religious views on marriage and family." The OGCMA's motion was dismissed.<ref>{{cite news |last=Gallagher |first=Mary Pat |title=U.S. Court Won't Hear Suit by Church That Barred Same-Sex Ceremonies |url=http://www.nownj.org/njNews/2007/1108%20U.S.%20Court%20Won%27t%20Hear%20Suit%20by%20Church%20That%20Barred%20Same-Sex%20Ceremonies.htm |access-date=December 30, 2013 |newspaper=National Organization for Women of New Jersey |date=November 8, 2007}}</ref>

Complicating the dispute over civil unions was the fact that Ocean Grove's boardwalk and beachfront were held in a 1908 ruling to be exempt from property tax because they "had been dedicated years ago by the association as a public highway."<ref>{{cite news |last=Sagara |first=Eric |title=Ocean Grove boardwalk appeal for FEMA aid denied |url=http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2013/06/ocean_grove_boardwalk_appeal_f.html |access-date=December 30, 2013 |newspaper=The Star-Ledger |date=June 1, 2013}}</ref> The Boardwalk Pavilion lost its tax-exempt status in 2007 because the state ruled that it no longer met the requirements as a place open to all members of the public. From 1989 until the Pavilion lost its tax-exempt status, the OGCMA had received $500,000 in annual tax breaks through the state's Green Acres program. The boardwalk and beach remain tax-exempt.<ref name=taxbreak>Capuzzo, Jill P. [https://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/18/nyregion/18grove.html "Group Loses Tax Break Over Gay Union Issue"], ''[[The New York Times]]'', September 18, 2007. Accessed August 28, 2022. "A boardwalk pavilion in the seaside town of Ocean Grove, N.J., that has been at the center of a battle over gay civil union ceremonies has lost its tax-exempt status because the state ruled it no longer met the requirements as a place open to all members of the public."</ref>

On January 12, 2012, Administrative Law Judge Solomon Metzger ruled that the Camp Meeting had violated the state's law against discrimination.<ref>{{cite news |last=LaPlaca |first=Charlie |title=Judge: Ocean Grove Church Violated Law by Preventing Civil Union |url=http://manasquan.patch.com/groups/politics-and-elections/p/judge-ocean-grove-church-violated-law-by-preventing-civil-union |archive-url=https://archive.today/20131230033934/http://manasquan.patch.com/groups/politics-and-elections/p/judge-ocean-grove-church-violated-law-by-preventing-civil-union |url-status=dead |archive-date=December 30, 2013 |access-date=December 30, 2013 |newspaper=Manasquan-Belmar Patch |date=January 13, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Judge Rules in Favor of Same-Sex Couple in Discrimination Case |url=http://www.aclu-nj.org/news/2012/01/13/judge-rules-in-favor-of-same-sex-couple-in-discrimination-case/ |access-date=December 30, 2013 |newspaper=American Civil Liberties Union |date=January 13, 2012}}</ref> The OGCMA discontinued use of the pavilion for weddings for the general public after the controversy started.<ref>{{cite news |last=Spahr |first=Rob |title=Lesbian couple discriminated against by Ocean Grove association, state says |url=http://www.nj.com/monmouth/index.ssf/2012/10/lesbian_couple_discriminated_against_by_ocean_grove_association_state_says.html |access-date=December 30, 2013 |newspaper=NJ.com |date=October 24, 2012}}</ref> While the Association reports that it no longer offers any of its property to the general public as wedding venues, they have a process in place that grants use on an exception basis, provided the couple meets additional criteria.