Same Sex Marriage Bill Delivered To New Jersey Governor Christie Who Has Vowed To Veto It; Log Cabin Republicans Call On Christie To “Choose To Be On Right Side Of History” And “Sign The Bill”

A bill legalizing same sex marriage in New Jersey was delivered Friday morning to Governor Chris Christie, who has vowed to veto it. According to The Associated Press, the Assembly clerk’s office sent the bill to Christie a day after the chamber approved it 42-33. The Senate passed the gay marriage proposal on Monday. Christie, a Republican who opposes gay marriage, had vowed “very swift action” once the bill reached his desk. On Friday, Steven Goldstein, chairman of the state’s largest gay rights group, Garden State Equality, said Christie would veto the bill because of his national political ambitions. “He won’t veto the bill because he’s anti-gay,” Goldstein said in a statement. “He’ll veto the bill because the 2016 South Carolina presidential primary electorate is anti-gay.” Christie — and most Republican lawmakers — want the issue decided by public vote. One GOP lawmaker, Senator Kip Bateman of Somerset, has proposed a ballot question asking voters to allow same-sex nuptials. However, Democrats who control the Legislature maintain that same sex marriage is a civil right protected by the U.S. Constitution and is not subject to popular vote. Six states and Washington, D.C., allow gay marriage. Washington State’s new same sex marriage law is set to go into effect in June. Christie’s office hasn’t said when the governor plans to act. His spokesmen didn’t immediately return e-mails seeking comment Friday.

Meanwhile, Log Cabin Republicans – a gay and lesbian Republican group – have called upon Governor Christie on Friday not to veto the same sex marriage bill passed by the state legislature. “New Jersey’s elected lawmakers have engaged in a long and respectful debate, and with bipartisan support have voted in favor of the freedom to marry. Log Cabin Republicans now call upon Governor Chris Christie to ensure liberty for all New Jersey residents by allowing that bill to become law,” said R. Clarke Cooper, Log Cabin Republicans Executive Director, in a statement. “The legislature has done its job in Trenton. Governor Christie, be the leader Republicans know you to be. Choose to be on the right side of history. Please sign this bill,” he continued. Log Cabin deputy executive director Christian Berle told POLITICO that despite his forthcoming veto, Christie has a generally good track record on gay rights. “We call for him to support this bipartisan piece of legislation. Gov. Christie has had a forward-leaning approach to many issues - he’s a full supporter of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, civil unions, and he appointed an openly gay justice to the state Supreme Court,” Berle said. “With that track record, the logical step would be to support the freedom to marry in the Garden State.” It was unclear whether the Log Cabin Republican chapter in New Jersey would oppose Christie’s re-election if the veto went through. “Given that his re-election is over a year away, we would have to take the veto into assessment,” said Berle, who added that he was optimistic about the advancement of gay rights in the country. “You’re seeing, nation-wide, a growing degree of support for the freedom to marry. And you’re seeing Republicans, time and time again take a role to fight for that freedom,” he said.