An excerpt from the Washington Blade article “New Jersey Senate passes marriage bill in 24-16 vote” For the full article, check out http://www.washingtonblade.com/2012/02/13/new-jersey-senate-passes-marriage-bill-in-24-16-vote/?utm_source=social&utm_medium=story&utm_term=Washington%2BBlade&utm_campaign=Washington%2BBlade.
The New Jersey senate passed a bill that would extend marriage rights to same-sex couples on a 24 to 16 vote today at 1:00 p.m.
The Marriage Equality and Religious Exemption Act was given the legislative bill number S1, a symbolic nod to the high priority that the Democratically controlled legislature was giving to the effort to equalize marriage laws in New Jersey for all genders and sexual orientations.
The bill — which Gov. Chris Christie has pledged to veto — required 21 votes in favor to pass out of the chamber.