Gay Former New Jersey Governor Ordered To Pay Child Support, But Not Alimony To Ex-Wife

August 8, 2008 4:13 p.m. EST

Trenton, NJ (AHN) - Former Gov. James E. McGreevey, New Jersey's first openly gay chief executive, was granted a divorce Friday that includes child support but not alimony to his ex-wife.

McGreevey successfully argued that as an Episcopalian seminary student he is too poor to pay alimony.

The couple, who formally separated in 2006 after McGreevey publicly admitted to a homosexual affair in 2005, share custody of their 6-year-old daughter. Dina Matos had originally asked the judge for 2,500 a month alimony for four years and $1,750 a month in child support.

Family Court Judge Karen Cassidy only awarded Matos $1,075 a month in child support.

Matos had argued that McGreevey was deliberately underemployed to evade paying alimony to support her, but the judge said that McGreevey was being supported by his rich boyfriend while studying at the seminary and, therefore, didn't need employment to support himself.