Chris Christie wasted no time today upon learning that the New Jersey Superior Court had ruled that same-sex couples must be allowed to marry. The Garden State Republican governor promised, just a few hours after the ruling, to appeal the decision to his state’s highest court, the Supreme Court of New Jersey.
“Governor Christie has always maintained that he would abide by the will of the voters on the issue of marriage equality and called for it to be on the ballot this Election Day,” Christie spokesperson Michael Drewniak said in a statement. “Since the legislature refused to allow the people to decide expeditiously, we will let the Supreme Court make this constitutional determination.”
A March 2013 Quinnipiac poll found 64 percent of New Jersey voters support same-sex marriage, and only 30 percent oppose it.
Barbara Buono, a Democratic state senator who supports marriage equality and is challenging Christie in November, took the popular governor to task.
“Today’s decision reaffirms that all New Jerseyans, no matter who they love, deserve the right to marry. It is a tremendous victory for everyone who believes in equality,” Buono said. “It is also a stark reminder that Governor Christie stands on the wrong side of history. At every turn, he has prevented our gay brothers and sisters from enjoying the same rights as other New Jerseyans. He must now make a decision whether to continue to be an obstacle or to be part of the solution.”
Image via Chris Christie’s Facebook page