Historically speaking, when the rights of a minority get put to a vote, things don’t tend to land on their side. However with the success of the last election for the LGBT community, and NJ’s first openly gay legislator, believes the majority of the population is on his side and introduced bill (A3611) asking New Jerseyites to approve gay marriage.
As you can expect there are Senate Democrats and activists who aren’t thrilled about putting Civil Rights to a vote, previously Gusciora included himself in that group until he felt like the support was there.
Gusciora also said it was his constituents who asked him to change his mind. “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.”
For those worried Republican Governor Chris Christie would refuse to sign the bill if it passes, Christie himself called for same-sex marriage to be put to a vote for the people to decide. In the words of Gusciora, “It’s what he wants.”
I’m no fan of putting rights to a vote as well, but the latest poll says the support is there, 53% – 36%, and by quite a margin.
