New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie Vetoes Marriage Equality Bill

New Jersey's Republican governor Chris Christie made good on his promise to veto a marriage equality bill, sending the legislation to its possible death on Friday.

One day after the Garden State's general assembly passed same-sex marriage legislation and four days after the state senate did, Christie stamped a big no on the bill. He had promised to try to kill the legislation, saying the majority should vote on the issue.

"I think this is not an issue that should rest solely in my hands, or the hands of the Senate President or the Speaker or the other 118 members of the Legislature," said the governor, according to the Star-Ledger newspaper. "Let's let the people of New Jersey decide what is right for the state."

Reaction from LGBT leaders was swift.

“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,” Mike Thompson, acting president of GLAAD, said in a press release. “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.”

A recent poll shows that a majority of New Jersey residents, 52%, actually support marriage equality in the state.

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