National Org. for Marriage Reaction to NJ State Senate Defeating Same-Sex Marriage Bill

Today New Jersey’s state Senate defeated a bill that would have legalized same-sex marriage prompting the National Organization for Marriage to issue a statement and call this defeat in New Jersey one in a “string of victories for marriage in blue states”

The state Senate, after an afternoon of debate, voted 20 to 14 against the bill. Backers of the bill had hoped to get it approved and signed into law before Democratic Gov. Jon Corzine, a supporter,leaves office on Jan. 19

NOM’s response.

“NEW JERSEY CONTINUES THE STRING OF VICTORIES FOR MARRIAGE IN BLUE STATES”(WASHINGTON, DC) – By a margin of 14 to 20, the New Jersey Senate rejected gay marriage. The decisive vote followed just a few weeks after a similar lopsided rejection of gay marriage by the New York State Senate. In both cases gay marriage advocates had promised supporters a victory this year and emerged with a decisive defeat.

“Once again gay marriage advocates forced a vote, and once again they learned the truth: the American people do not want their politicians spending time passing gay marriage,” said Brian Brown, executive director for the National Organization for Marriage. “The Catholic Conference and the New Jersey Family Policy Council deserve thanks, but the main force for this victory is the tens of thousands of ordinary New Jerseyans who picked up the phone and sent letters and emails to their elected representatives. This vote is your victory. Your voice came through loud and clear. Congratulations, New Jersey. This is a vote for marriage, for common sense, and for democracy.”

NOM spent a total of $1.2 million in voter and media outreach in their successful campaigns to block gay marriage in New Jersey and New York (where the Democrat-controlled state Senate overwhelmingly rejected gay marriage on December 2nd in a 38 to 24 vote). NOM also emerged as the major donor to the victorious effort to overturn this November a gay marriage law passed by the Maine state legislature last spring.