TRENTON, N.J. — A New Jersey state Senate committee on Tuesday advanced a bill that would legalize same-sex marriage in the Garden State, while Gov. Chris Christie vowed to veto the bill if it reached his desk, and instead said that gay marriage should be decided by the voters.
After three hours of testimony, the Democratic-led Senate Judiciary Committee approved the measure on an 8-4 party-line vote.
Earlier this month, Democrats introduced the bill, S1, the first in the new legislative session and a symbol of their commitment to passing marriage equality legislation.
In today’s hearing, same-sex marriage equality advocates focused on the state’s current civil unions law, which has led to legal inadequacies particularly in areas pertaining to survivor benefits, hospital visitation, or child custody issues.
During his testimony, Daniel Weiss — who is currently a lead plaintiff in a marriage equality lawsuit filed in New Jersey Superior Court last June — told lawmakers that when he was summoned to a hospital in New York City after his spouse John Grant was hit by a car and sustained life-threatening injuries, Weiss said the brain surgeon asked him; “What is a civil union?”
Opponents’ arguments included claims that same-sex marriage redefines the traditional centuries old meaning of marriage and numerous quotes from the Bible condemning homosexuality.
There were also statements that, even with broad religious exemptions written into the proposed law — protecting religious organizations the rights to not to solemnize same-sex weddings or provide facilities for their celebration — the bill would still threaten religious freedom.
Meanwhile, in a town-hall meeting in Bridgewater, N.J., Christie told the audience that an issue of such magnitude should be decided by the voters, a position held when he campaigned for office in 2009.
“Let’s make sure that political maneuvering is not what judges this and let’s make sure this is not someone just trying to have fun and create a campaign issue,” Christie said. “The institution of marriage if too serious to be treated like a political football.”
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“I think this is not an issue that should rest solely in my hands, or the hands of the Senate President or the Speaker or the other 118 members of the Legislature,” he said. “Let’s let the people of New Jersey decide what is right for the state.”
Senate President Stephen Sweeney, one of the measure’s Democratic sponsors, said civil rights issues like the right to marry are guaranteed under the state’s constitution and do not require a public vote.
“Civil rights is not to be placed on the ballot. It’s to be voted on by the people in this house,” Sweeney said.
In Newark, Mayor Cory Booker agreed, and said he is firmly against leaving the question of gay marriage up to a referendum.
“I shudder to think what would have happened if the civil rights gains, heroically established by courageous lawmakers in the 1960s, were instead conveniently left up to popular votes in our 50 states,” Booker said in a statement.
Sweeney stated that enough votes exist to pass the bill in the Senate, and a floor vote is tentatively scheduled for February 13.
Democratic leaders in both chambers of the legislature are working with GOP counterparts to muster the two-thirds majority required to override the Governor’s promised veto. In the Senate, a sole Republican senator publicly supports the bill, and the veto threat from Christie holds the potential to make other members of the GOP caucus wary about crossing the governor.
A spokesman for Christie told LGBTQ Nation on Tuesday afternoon that as far as the Governor is concerned, he believes in traditional marriage.
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New Jersey lawmakers will vote on same-sex marriage bills this month
New Jersey Assembly committee advances marriage equality legislation
State legislatures moving fast on marriage equality bills
NJ's largest newspaper calls for constitutional amendment in favor of gay marriage
NJ Democratic lawmakers set to introduce marriage equality legislation
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Right. Because civil rights should ALWAYS be put to the whims and fancies of the majority, shouldn’t they? What a great idea. NOT.
So nine out of fifty? What’s the matter Christie, afraid to show your equality, sensitive side? If Jesus loved everyone heck even heathens and gentiles…I’m sure that he can love a gay!
Are we still in America? *looks around*
sooooooooo r u saying your against same sex marriages im confused on ur stance…..
>.<
Governor Christie does not like gay people!
That is bullshit! Civil Rights should never be put up to a vote!
Anti gays pretend that gays should not be parents but the view from my seat is totally different. Both my kids had friends that lived with me from 13 -graduation. Their parents virtually threw them out because of not being able to get along. None of the kids were gay and still aren’t they just had lousy parents. As a gay Mom I had no probems with my kids or theirs. They are all decent contributing citizens today. So who should not be a parent.
And there are a lot of people that don’t like Christie!
funny no one seemed to mind civil rights being put to a vote when blacks were made to ride in the back of the bus. GAYS really need to stop all this whiney bullshit and get into action. we cannot remain victims forever!
he even said, according to an article I just read, that he would veto it even if the voters voted for it
Ya not being hanged from trees either, ya not slavers either,
There no signs sayinG No gays hate wen ppl try and say civil rights and the gay movement r the same when they arent
Why don’t we let the voters decide on whether that Fat Fuck Chris Christie can have another Twinkie?? I vote no; starve the asshole to death. Tell him we’ll give him same-sex wedding cake and he’ll sign it in two seconds. Put a dollar bill inside the cake and the fat fuck will eat the whole damn thing just to find it and retrieve it out of his own shit if he accidentally swallows it. Fat Fat Republicans will do anything for excess food and/or a dollar. New Jersey already stinks and then they add this guy’s farts.
The gay rights movement IS a civil rights movement! Gay rights are HUMAN RIGHTS! If you(Micky Vee) cannot see the parallels between the two, maybe you need to reconsider your position.
Gays rights are civil rights, Micky.
I should hope gays aren’t slavers. That would be a most unsavory profession, trafficking human life for the purpose of free labor. I would like to think LGBT people wouldn’t even dream of doing such a thing.
Wrong Micky. We are being hung from trees, tied to fences, shot, beaten to death with baseball bats, stabbed, brutalized in any and every horrible way the haters can imagine in their sick and twisted minds, besides being enslaved in some countries in the Middle East. It is civil rights/
Good, but I still hate the idea of any citizen being able to vote on another’s right to have equal rights, no citizen should have the power to oppress another while denying them civil rights. I am your equal…I bleed like you, I breath like you, I even sing the Star Spangled Banner incorrectly like you…I am an American, a US citizen born in this country and that is all that should matter in granting me equality!
Well I would hope that the reason we don’t see such blatant anti-gay signs us that our country learned just a little though the black civil rights movement. But guaranteed it’s in their minds so it is the same. When people post signs you at least know who your enemies are. Silent enemies are worse because you don’t know who they are.
The majority should never vote for the minorities rights . That’s like the minority deciding what the majority should do.
Micky, why don’t you google “Loving vs Virginia”- the landmark civil rights case in which the Supreme Court decided that laws against mixed race marriages were unconstitutional. Marriage is a civil right.
Ok.. i will stay cool on this, BUT whos business is it who i marry whether it be the government or my next door neighbor. If you dont like gay marriage THEN DONT MARRY ONE.
@ Heriberto: I think we SHOULD vote on straights getting married..probably wouldn’t be so many divorces! :)
If everything was left 2 a public vote- America would b fucked. The public voted against abolishing Slavery. The public voted to stop women from gaining the right 2 vote until their was anarchy in 1920. The public voted against the disabilities act- where the handicap had to be hired if they could do the job. The public voted against the Civil Rights Bill and LBJ had to strong arm it through againt Republican opposition. So closet case “Chris Christie is full of shit!!!!
Mickey, being a negro and saying that is kinda pathetic. You wouldn’t have your rights if the majority voted .
The difference between the Civil Rights and Gay Rights is huge but no the less important. When I walk outside my house you know I’m black, there is no hiding it. But I can hide being gay. I will be miserable all my life because I don’t want you 2 b uncomfortable. Gay people are just sick & tired of hiding in the shadows 2 make u feel better and that’s really it. Blacks can’t change the color of their skin and you can’t change being born Gay. The time is now to live in your own truth and stand up for who God made u and stop trying to please everyone. Because when you try 2 please everyone, noone is satisfied!
Sad
The majority has no right to opress or vote on rights of any US citezen.
“But I can hide being gay.” That’s both naive and irrelevant. There are African Americans who can pass for white and gay people who could never pass for straight. What difference does it make? None. It suggests that people *should* hide who they are in order to get equal rights.
The saddest thing is that Micky doesn’t know what the term “civil rights” means.
This is defiently a civil rights issue. However, it is certainly a different kind within a new era. I don’t want our issues with our movement to desensetise or take away from the struggles the African American community endured for 100′s of years. Together as two very different minority groups we need to embrace eachother’s communities to prevent bigotry on all levels……Some people who walk down the street can be recognized as someone who fits the profile of a homosexual….(butch women, feminine Men)….The hatred is taking on new forms such as bullying in schools…gay youths in places like Iowa and Utah….rates of suicide amongst gay youth is staggering….i feel so passionate not just because i am gay but because this movement is affectiong kids and teens…future generations…..gays havent suffered like blacks have with slavery and lynchings…but we suffer in other ways that are just as horrific…hate crimes…job security…We just want the same rights as others nothing more nothing less……And Chris Chirstie has already backed Mitt Romney….With that said I wouldnt trust those two in washington..I am from mitt’s home territory in New Hampshire I am 25 mins from Mass….he is a joke he is backed by Christie there is an agenda…..god loves is all white black gay strait so lets make it official and legalize marriage:o)
agreed, no two movements are the same, just as no two prejudices are felt in exactly the same way.
and to governer christie- the only person who should decide whether or not someone enters a marriage is the person putting a ring on their finger.
Someone should start a petition
Christie’s an asshole , it’s not up to him, who does he think he is anyway…what a fat fucking homophobe.
Ok so heres a clue Governor,YES pu it to a vote for the people but DONT veto,give the people a chance to ratify what the Senate voted for.