Two weeks ago, a Jewish newspaper in New Jersey, the Jewish Standard, published a wedding announcement for a totally adorable same-sex Jewish couple.

Now the newspaper is apologizing for it and saying it won’t happen again:

We set off a firestorm last week by publishing a same-sex couple’s announcement of their intent to marry. Given the tenor of the times, we did not expect the volume of comments we have received, many of them against our decision to run the announcement, but many supportive as well.

A group of rabbis has reached out to us and conveyed the deep sensitivities within the traditional/Orthodox community to this issue. Our subsequent discussions with representatives from that community have made us aware that publication of the announcement caused pain and consternation, and we apologize for any pain we may have caused.

The Jewish Standard has always striven to draw the community together, rather than drive its many segments apart. We have decided, therefore, since this is such a divisive issue, not to run such announcements in the future.

In an incredibly heartening turn, tons of fellow Jews have posted comments on that page in response, strongly disagreeing with the decision.

The Jewish Standard claims to be “not affiliated with any program, organization, movement, or point of view, but is dedicated to giving expression to all phases of Jewish life.” It is based in Teaneck, NJ, home to a large number of Orthodox Jews, but it puts itself forth as a newspaper for all Jews, not just for the Orthodox community.

As a gay man, a Jew, and a New Jerseyan by upbringing — heck, as a human being — I find this decision to be disgusting, cowardly, and hurtful. It makes me sick.

It would be one thing if this newspaper marketed itself as an exclusively Orthodox newspaper, catering to that steadily shrinking segment of the Jewish community. But it doesn’t. Its mission, as stated is, in part:

TO PROVIDE the Jewish communities of Bergen, Hudson, Passaic, and Rockland counties with an indispensable newspaper that will present local, national, and world news of Jewish interest….

Not just the Orthodox community. The entire Jewish community: Reform, Conservative, Reconstructionist, unaffiliated.

According to many of the commenters, the newspaper has no problem advertising restaurants that serve non-Kosher or inadequately Kosher food. It has no problem publicizing events that occur on Friday night or Saturday, when observant Jews would be celebrating Shabbat. But somehow a small portion of its readership has experienced “pain and consternation” at the announcement that two people have fallen in love and wish to spend the rest of their lives together.

What kind of heartless human being would feel “pain and consternation” at the joyful celebration of two people who love each other? What about the pain and consternation caused to gay Jews and their families and friends who now know that their life events are not worthy of being publicly celebrated in a community newspaper? What’s even more callous and disgusting is that this happened several days after a gay New Jersey college student killed himself after his asshole roommate decided to air live video of him “making out with a dude.” It’s because of decisions like the one the Jewish Standard has made — decisions that encourage the idea that gay relationships are never as good as straight relationships — that young gay people decide to kill themselves.

It seems to me that this was a business decision. The Jewish Standard is probably worried that the powerful Orthodox community will cancel its subscriptions and its advertising if the newspaper persists in being inclusive.

Well, a few years from now, the editors of the Jewish Standard are going to look upon themselves and their decision with great regret, embarrassment, shame, and remorse — just like businesses in the 1960s that used to cater to racism out of fear of losing money or rocking the boat.

I don’t see how this is any different from the newspaper in Maine that apologized last month for showing American Muslims celebrating Ramadan on September 11.

I’d never heard of this newspaper — it doesn’t publish in the county where I grew up. I’m more familiar with the New Jersey Jewish News, which I think my parents subscribe to. So, congratulations to the Jewish Standard: your cowardly, hurtful business decision has broadened your public profile.