Gay Marriage Passes First Vote in New Jersey

(Wall Street Journal) - TRENTON, N.J. -- Legislation to legalize same-sex marriage in New Jersey passed a vote in the Democratic-controlled state Senate on Monday, a victory for gay rights advocates that sets up a vote in the Assembly on Thursday.

The Senate chambers broke out in applause and hugs from supporters as the legislation passed in a 24 to 16 vote. It was a larger majority than had been expected by the bill's backers. Two Republicans voted for the bill, joining all but two Democrats backing the measure.

Senate President Stephen Sweeney, a Democrat, urged Republican lawmakers to vote for the bill against the wishes of New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, who opposes gay marriage and has pushed for a public referendum on the issue.

"Now is your moment. Now is the time to stand up and say yes," Sweeney said before the vote.

He also listed states near New Jersey -- Connecticut, Vermont, New Hampshire, New York -- that had passed gay marriage laws. "The sky hasn't fallen in any of them," Sweeney said.

The Senate chambers were packed with supporters of the bill, including many same-sex couples from New Jersey. Religious Jewish leaders held a press conference in Trenton against the bill earlier in the day.

The state Senate voted against gay marriage 14-20 when it was first introduced in January 2010. Nine Democrats voted against it at that time, with Sweeney abstaining in the earlier vote. He now supports the legislation as a civil-rights issue.

The Assembly is set to vote on the bill Thursday, where the Democratic leadership has said it expected to pass the measure. The legislative equation in the Assembly remains murkier than in the Senate. Lawmakers in the Assembly never voted on the bill in 2010, giving activists less of a read on which members support and oppose the bill.

Christie has repeatedly said he will veto the bill if it comes to his desk. The governor wants to put gay marriage up for a referendum, but same-sex marriage supporters argue that a civil right should not be put to a vote.

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