Christie Vetoes Marriage Bill

Lambda Legal

"We are disappointed that Governor Christie did not do what is right for New Jersey families, but we are not discouraged," said Hayley Gorenberg, Lambda Legal Deputy Legal Director. "There are many roads to justice, and Governor Christie's veto is an unfortunate detour to marriage equality for New Jersey's same-sex couples and their families. We'll continue to make our case for equality with our plaintiffs in court. We also stand by our colleagues at Garden State Equality, working to gain support for a veto override in the legislature."

GLAAD

“Today, Governor Christie abandoned a majority of New Jersey voters, as well as the officials elected to represent them, who believe that every committed couple should be able to marry the person they love,” said Mike Thompson, Acting President of GLAAD. “As public support for marriage equality continues to grow, however, we are hopeful that the state legislature will continue its work to provide loving gay and lesbian couples with the vital protections that only marriage can afford.”

Freedom To Marry

By vetoing the bill that would ensure that all loving, committed New Jersey couples and their families can share in the freedom to marry, with all its protections and meaning, Governor Christie planted his feet firmly on the wrong side of history. Fortunately, his ‘no’ will not be America’s – or New Jersey’s – last word. It is simply an obstacle we overcome as we continue on the road to liberty and justice for all. Freedom to Marry will work steadily over the next months – and throughout the entire remainder of the legislative session, as necessary – supporting local families, leaders, and advocates as they make the case to their lawmakers and win the extra handful of votes needed to override the veto and do right by all families.

Garden State Equality On Chris Christie

Garden State Equality chair Steven Goldstein has issued a statement about Gov. Chris Christie and his impending veto of the marriage equality bill. An excerpt:

As I have said before, where we agree with them on the issues, Governor Christie and his Administration have treated us with warmth and responsiveness. Yes is yes, no is no, and we’ll get back to you means they get back to you faster than you thought, usually with invaluable help.

And that’s precisely why Governor Christie’s veto of the marriage equality bill will hurt so badly. We’re not naïve – we’ve always known he would veto the bill, and frankly, I was always a bit puzzled by the silly tea-leaf reading and phantasmagoric hopes that perhaps the Governor would look deep inside his heart and let the bill become law. Ridiculous. I know this Governor, and when he says he’ll do something, take him at his word, for better and here for worse.

It’s why I chose not to waste a breath in pleading with the Governor not to veto – and have put Garden State Equality immediately to work to achieve an override. The great news is, we have until the end of the legislative session, in January 2014, to do it.

That doesn’t obviate the pain of the Governor’s veto. Because I do know him, I also know he is not some anti-LGBT nut. He is no Rick Santorum. Frankly, I don’t think Chris Christie has an anti-gay bone in his body, however much I cannot say the same about his impending veto. His veto will be a brutally anti-gay act, pure and simple.

Read the full statement.

HomoQuotable - Greg Quinlan

"The political rhetoric was disgusting. It was bigoted, it was anti-Christian, and it was all Democrats. We had three Democrats who voted with us, and we had no Republicans who voted wrong. We were pleased at least with that. The next thing is that we're demanding a referendum; we're demanding it be put on the ballot. But as long as the Democrats are in control, that's not going to happen." - "Ex-gay" leader Greg Quinlan, head of the New Jersey Family Policy Council.

VIDEO: Hate Groups Rally In Trenton

From this brief glimpse, yesterday's hate rally in Trenton appears to have drawn all the same douchebags that attended the Ruben Diaz hatespew in the Bronx.

Brian Brownshirt On New Jersey

"Democrats in the New Jersey Assembly today walked off a cliff when they decided to redefine marriage to accommodate the political demands of same-sex couples. They have ensured themselves of the united opposition of people of faith when they next face voters. We are grateful to have a principled Governor in Chris Christie who has pledged to veto this legislation. Redefining marriage is not going to happen in New Jersey. NOM will join with the community of faith and all conservatives to ensure that every legislator who voted to kick God's definition of marriage to the curb pays the ultimate political price when they face voters. We will not forget this betrayal of marriage." - Brian Brownshirt.

Christie Blasted Over Whitney Tribute

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie has ordered the state's flags lowered to mark the death of Whitney Houston, who was born and raised in Newark. Cue the wingnuts.

Heather Clause, a Richmond, Va.-based blogger who writes about teen moms and was tweeting critical comments, said in a telephone interview that she was appalled by the planned flag-lowering. "It's just such a bad example for people," she said. Clause, 23, said the decision was like saying if someone sings well, drug use doesn't matter and "you can still be an idol." Rebecca Eppelmann, a newspaper copy editor in upstate New York, also tweeted her disgust at the Houston honor, then discussed her views. "It should be for major events," she said. "It's horrible that she passed away. It's not something that should warrant this."

Christie: "I am disturbed by people who believe that because her ultimate demise – and we don't know what is the cause of her death yet – but because of her history of substance abuse that somehow she's forfeited the good things that she did in her life. I just reject that on a human level."

RELATED: New York state legislators were also criticized for a resolution honoring Houston. Objections faded when it was pointed out that Houston donated her national anthem sales to 9/11's first responders.

Headline Of The Day

New Jersey Marriage Reactions

Lambda Legal

Today New Jersey's General Assembly rose above the political fray and did right by New Jersey's families. Governor Christie should follow their lead - but if he doesn't, legislators should continue to stand for equality and override his veto. Marriage equality in New Jersey is a matter of when - not if. New Jersey should choose to join the right side of history soon, because loving same-sex couples and their families should not have to wait any longer. We believe there are many paths to justice, and Lambda Legal continues to fight for marriage equality in the courts on behalf of seven same-sex couples, Garden State Equality, and all families in New Jersey.

National Gay & Lesbian Task Force

This victory is a victory for New Jersey families. It affirms what millions of people across the country already know — loving, committed same-sex couples and their families should be able to join in the celebration and responsibilities of marriage. This marks an important step in the Garden State’s march toward marriage equality. It has been a long journey of changing hearts and minds, of breaking down walls, and of shining a spotlight on our common humanity. Gov. Chris Christie should take a stand for families by signing this bill.

Freedom To Marry

Sadly, Governor Chris Christie has planted his feet on the wrong side of history, and the wrong side of the majority for marriage in New Jersey and nationwide. If the governor sticks with his threat of a veto, Freedom to Marry will work throughout the entire remainder of the legislative session, supporting local families, leaders, and advocates as they make the case and win the extra handful of votes needed to override the veto and do right by these families.

Human Rights Campaign

Today, the New Jersey State Legislature sent a powerful message that all its citizens should be treated equally under the law, and that all families deserve the same protections,” said HRC President Joe Solmonese. “Governor Christie may veto this legislation, but he is out of step with the majority of voters on this issue. We will not give up until marriage equality becomes a reality in New Jersey. HRC has been proud to partner with Garden State Equality (GSE) in achieving this historic legislative victory.

NJ Assembly PASSES Marriage Bill

UPDATE: By a vote of 41-33 the New Jersey Assembly has approved its marriage equality bill. That's far below the necessary 54 votes for an override of Gov. Christie's promised veto. Nevertheless, we WON and New Jersey can now be added to the lengthening list of states with legislatively approved marriage equality.

UPDATE II: The New York Times says the final vote tally was 42-33 and not 41-33 as displayed by the final tote board in the chamber. That figure matches the 75 reps who responded to the initial quorum call I heard the speaker make.

NOTE: New Jersey has 80 Assembly districts which means that six legislators did not vote. A tipster tells me that one of the missing reps is a Republican who would have been a "yes" vote. As for the other five missing votes, I have no idea. There were no abstentions.

EARLIER: The voting should commence sometime around 1pm Eastern. We need 41 votes to win, 54 to override. Even with Monday's win in the Senate, all this may seem symbolic in the face of Christie's promised veto. But let's not forget the enduring power of the positive press today's vote will get around the nation. Plus we get almost two full years to get those extra votes.

Today In New Jersey

We need 54 Assembly votes to override Christie's veto. The New Jersey Senate vote to approve the bill on Monday with a 24 votes, three short of an override. After Christie's veto, the legislature has until January 2014 to get the needed override votes.

NOTE: NY Sen. Ruben Diaz, NOM, and other anti-gay groups plan to descend on Trenton today for a massive rally similar to the ones seen in Manhattan. Those events took place on the weekend so hopefully today's turnout will be small.

Gregoire's Letter To Christie

Igor Volsky reports that Christie has not bothered to respond. What a classy guy.

NJ Gov. Chris Christie: The Legislature Doesn't Have The Votes To Override

Christie says yesterday's vote in the state Senate was nothing more than "a good bunch of theater." The Assembly votes on Thursday.

NEW JERSEY: Christian Hate Groups Plan Massive Anti-Gay Rally For Trenton

The same coalition of anti-gay Christian groups that led tens of thousands of raving Hispanic evangelicals through the streets of Manhattan is planning to repeat that repulsive event this Thursday in the capital of New Jersey.

From the official state website of New York Sen. Ruben Diaz:

New York State Senator Reverend Ruben Diaz (D-Bronx) and fellow Ministers from the New York Hispanic Clergy Organization have accepted an invitation to travel to the New Jersey State Legislature in Trenton to join New Jersey ministers in support of Traditional Marriage. The Pentecostal ministers will depart from the Bronx on Thursday, February 16, 2012 at 9AM from the Christian Community Neighborhood Church located at 1437 Longfellow Avenue (between Jennings and Freeman Avenues). Senator Rev. Diaz stated: “I am honored that Rev. Jose C. Lopez, the President of the Evangelical Pastors Association of Hudson County, has invited me and my ministers to join him along with Brian Brown, President of the National Organization for Marriage, to once again unite in prayer for the protection of the traditional family.”

At their last hate march through Manhattan, the most prominent chant was "Let us vote! Let us vote!" Which was more than idiotic because as gay bloggers pointed out, the majority of the marchers were bussed in from northern New Jersey courtesy of a local Dominican radio station. If the same bigots attend in Trenton, at least this time they would be voters.

Marriage Passes NJ Senate

As expected the New Jersey Senate today voted 24-16 to approve its marriage equality bill. The bill should pass even more easily in the state Assembly. Gov. Chris Christie has vowed to veto the bill. Proponents need 27 Senate and 54 Assembly votes for an override of the veto.

NJ Senate Votes On Marriage Today

The New Jersey Senate will likely approve its marriage equality bill today.

The measure is expected to pass there today and also in the Assembly on Thursday. But that will be far from the end of the story. The state Senate voted against a similar measure in January 2010. Senate President Stephen Sweeney abstained on the bill then, but he's now one of the Legislature's leading advocates for same-sex matrimony. Gov. Chris Christie says he'll veto the bill if it comes to his desk, giving proponents nearly two years to try to muster enough votes to override it.

Two years to override? Can that be right?

NYT Denounces Christie's Veto Vow

From an editorial in the New York Times:

The advances for the freedom to marry in both Washington and California provide supporters of marriage equality critical momentum to build upon as the New Jersey State Legislature prepares to vote on the issue next week. A strong vote in favor of same-sex marriage in the state’s House and Senate would be a legislative achievement, and it would help set the stage to overriding a veto, as promised by Gov. Chris Christie. In light of the week’s good news from California and Washington, Mr. Christie’s vow to block the bill in New Jersey seems not only disgraceful, but against the tide of history.

Christie Rants On Same-Sex Marriage

I referenced this quote yesterday, but today Think Progress has the video and the transcript.

"Ex-Gay" Douchebag Greg Quinlan Demands Apology From NJ Lawmakers

"I want to talk first of all about something I heard from the very beginning by people of this Legislature that we are bigots as people of faith, because we do not hold that homosexual marriage should be codified. That somehow we are bigots and we are ideologues because we are people of faith. I want to address that hate. Everyone in this room who is a person of faith deserves an apology from one of the sponsors of this bill for calling us bigots.

"To date there is zero evidence that anyone is born a homosexual, zero. In fact it's homosexual researchers and scientists that are proving that homosexuality is not innate and had no biological ideology. Homosexuality is not immutable. There are many ex-gays; Anne Heche, to name one, Sinead O'Connor and myself. I left the homosexual lifestyle almost 20 years ago. Lived as a homosexual activist for 10 years of my life." - PFOX head Greg Quinlan, speaking at yesterday's marriage hearing before the New Jersey Assembly. (Via On Top Magazine)

New Jersey Marriage Bill Advances

After hours and hours of some of the most repulsively anti-gay testimony ever to spew from my speakers, New Jersey's marriage equality bill advanced out of committee by a vote of 5-2.

The legislation still faces votes in both houses of the Legislature, with the Senate vote set for Feb. 13. Republican Gov. Chris Christie has promised to veto the Marriage Equality and Religious Exemption Act if it reaches his desk. Proponents touted the bill’s protections for religious organizations and affiliated groups that refuse to conduct a same-sex marriage as part of free exercise of religion, but that doesn’t address core religious concerns, said Rabbi Moshe Bressler, an Orthodox Jew from Lakewood. Bressler said state sanction of something other than marriages of one man and one woman would be an “attack on marriage and an attack on the family. “If you vote against the bill, it’s a vote for God. Voting for the bill, that’s not creating an environment to prosper,” Bressler said.

Towleroad point out this quote from Gov. Chris Christie: "The polls that I’ve seen show that if this goes to the ballot, I lose. How much more magnanimous could I be?"

LIVE AUDIO: NJ Senate Marriage Hearing

Click on Judiciary.