NJ Legislature passes gay marriage bill, no veto from gov… yet
0
The New Jersey legislature passed a bill in favor of legalizing gay marriage in the Garden State. That was expected after the State Senate passed the same legislation earlier this week. However, the big shocker is that as of Thursday evening, Governor Chris Christie had not yet vetoed the bill.
Christie, a Republican, says this civil rights issue should be left up to New Jersey voters later this year when they cast their ballot for President. Earlier in the week, the governor promised “swift action” to shoot down the bill.
If Christie keeps his promise to veto the bill, gay rights activists say the don’t plan to simply give up on marriage equality. To overturn a gubernatorial veto, at least 3/4 off the legislature must cast their votes in favor of same sex marriage, however, Thursdays bill only passed by a 42-33 voting making it an immediate veto override seem almost impossible. Like the last time gay marriage was a hot topic in Jersey, the courts could decide. The last ruling declared that a ban on gay marriage was unconstitutional and demanded that legislators come up with an alternative. At that time, the state adopted civil unions for gay couples.
In the worst case scenario, Christie could get his wish and votes will decide this fall. A current gallop poll shows that most New Jersey residents are in favor of marriage equality.
About Charles Winters
Charles Winters is the Chief Executive Officer and Editorial Director for our parent company (his namesake, Charles Winters Information Management) where he oversees such media outlets as GaySocialites.com, queerplanet.net, CouponAngel.us and FiDiNYC.info. He founded GaySocialites.com in 2005 and served as Editor-in-Chief until 2011. He still contributes to GaySocialites.com by regularly reporting news, penning a weekly op-ed piece and hosting our original television/ radio programs titled "GaySocialites.com presents..."
