Today New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie instructed his attorney general to withdraw the state’s appeal of a court decision bringing marriage equality to the Garden State. This action makes New Jersey the 14th state in the nation, as well as the District of Columbia, where lesbian and gay couples can marry.
In a statement the Christie administration said, “Although the governor strongly disagrees with the court substituting its judgment for the constitutional process of the elected branches or a vote of the people, the court has now spoken clearly as to their view of the New Jersey Constitution and, therefore, same-sex marriage is the law. The governor will do his constitutional duty and ensure his administration enforces the law as dictated by the New Jersey Supreme Court.”
Human Rights Campaign (HRC) President Chad Griffin issued the following statement:
“Gov. Christie did the right thing in not standing in the way of loving couples’ ability to make lifelong commitments to each other through marriage. Civil Unions have never been full equality and as the state court system has said, denying marriage to lesbian and gay couples does real harm to them and their families. Breaking down this dark wall of discrimination in New Jersey helps build momentum as we continue to expand the marriage equality map so that one day soon a state border will not dictate whether a loving couple can share in the joys of marriage.”
