Newark New Jersey Mayor Cory Booker Condemns Governor Christie’s Proposed Same Sex Marriage Referendum

In an unprecedented public divergence with New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, Newark Mayor Cory Booker said today he is firmly against leaving the question of same sex 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, reports The Star-Ledger. With the gay marriage debate advancing in Trenton today, Governor Christie said, who has long said he would veto a gay marriage bill, said "I need to be governed by the will of the people." But Booker countered that leaders are elected to make difficult decisions, not submit to a public referendum. "Equal protection under the law – for race, religion, gender or sexual orientation – should not be subject to the most popular sentiments of the day," Booker said. "Marriage equality is not a choice. It is a legal right. I hope our leaders in Trenton will affirm and defend it." Booker has been a strong advocate of marriage equality for years. Since being elected mayor, he has refused to perform marriages at City Hall in protest of what he cites as inequalities in the state's marriage laws. In October 2009, he formed the City of Newark Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Questioning Concerns Advisory Commission which examines issues of inequality and harassment, based on sexual identity in the city.