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New Jersey court backs gay rights

The US state of New Jersey's Supreme Court has ruled that gay couples are entitled to the same rights as heterosexual couples.

But the court say it is for the legislature to decide whether the state will honour gay marriage or some other form of civil union.

It follows a case brought by seven gay couples, who claimed that the state's constitution entitled them to marry.

Currently, only Massachusetts allows same-sex marriages.

New Jersey is one of only five US states without either a law or a state constitutional amendment blocking same-sex marriage.