Assemblyman Reed Gusciora has decided to take Gov. Chris Christie up on his offer with legislation that would put the question of marriage equality before voters in November.
Gusciora, the first openly gay man in the state Legislature, has up until now been opposed
to putting a civil rights question like marriage equality up to a popular vote. But the Assemblyman — New Jersey’s first openly gay legislator — said his constituents asked him to change his mind in light of last month’s election results.
“I am the last person who believes civil rights should be on the ballot, but civil rights delayed is civil rights denied,” Gusciora said. “The timing is right. There is broader acceptance.”
Steven Goldstein of Garden State Equality has remained opposed — I haven’t talked to him since Gusciora introduced the bill, but he has been adamant in his opposition to a referendum.
I’m with Gusciora on this. The political realities in the state preclude advancement of marriage equality through the Legislature. The governor is opposed, but has promised not to stand in the way of a referendum. There are a handful of Republicans who support marriage equality, but they are unlikely to buck the governor, meaning that there will not be enough votes to override.
So the ballot seems the only option and, given the recent successes in Maine and Maryland, along with the polling, this seems the best approach.
Hank Kalet 