newjerseynewsroom.com

BY ALICIA CRUZ

NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM

He saw eye-to-eye with neighboring state politician, Mayor Michael Bloomberg on recessional budgeting, but New Jersey Governor Chris Christie doesn’t agree with New York Governor Andrew Cuomo’s latest political move. Days after Cuomo signed a bill allowing gay marriages, Christie, once again, made it clear the Garden State was drawing the line at civil unions.

On June 23, New York’s Republican-controlled state Senate cleared the way for Cuomo to sign the Marriage Equality Act after legislators passed the measure in a 33-29 vote. New York church leaders condemned the new law, and Christie echoed their sentiments, reiterating his stance to David Gregory during a Sunday morning appearance on "Meet the Press."

When asked if he believed in a constitutional amendment that would bar other states from passing same-sex marriage bills, Christie responded: “In New Jersey we have a civil union law...in our state we're going to continue to pursue civil unions. I am not a fan of same-sex marriage. It's not something that I support,” MSNBC reported.

Click here for a transcript of Christie’s Interview on “Meet the Press."

During an interview with Piers Morgan earlier this month, when asked if Christie believed homosexuals were sinners, the Governor said he did not, although his church says it is.

“People are born with the predisposition to be homosexual. And so, I think if someone is born that way, it's very difficult to say then that that's a sin,” said Christie who added that despite that, he would not change his mind about same-sex couples entering into marriages.

“Marriage is a special connotation. And I couldn't see myself changing my mind on that. I believe marriage is an institution between one man and one woman,” said Christie.

The 48-year-old politician discussed a variety of topics on “Meet the Press,” including his pension and benefit overhaul victory, North Jersey.com reported.

New Jersey Legislature passed the Civil Union Act December 14, 2006. Former Governor Jon Corzine signed the bill, which came into effect on February 19, 2007. Same-sex couples who enter into a civil union in New Jersey have nearly all of the rights granted to married couples under New Jersey state law. However, same-sex couples in marriages, civil unions, or domestic partnerships are not entitled to any of the 1,138 rights extended to married couples under the Federal Defense of Marriage Act or DOMA.

During the first 90 days of the law, 852 same-sex couples entered into civil-unions, the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services reported. New Jersey recognizes some same-sex relationships contracted out of state as either equivalent to or having the same legal force as New Jersey civil unions.

On December 7, 2009, the New Jersey Senate Judicial Committee voted 7-6 in favor of a civil marriage equality bill. The bill was amended exempting clergyman from having to perform same-sex ceremonies. In January 2010, Senate leaders defeated that marriage bill.