New Poll: 60% of NJ Citizens Support Marriage Equality

A new poll revealed that gay marriage support in New Jersey is strong, with 60 percent of the voters favoring a bill that would legalize same-sex marriage.

According to the data by Quinnipiac University, which polled 1,068 New Jersey voters, only 31 percent oppose a gay marriage state law.

NJ.com reports that a March poll found that 64 percent of New Jersey voters said they back marriage rights for same-sex couples, while 30 percent were against it.

That poll came out about a month before the Supreme Court's ruling on Proposition 8 and the Defense of Marriage Act.

In February, another poll asked 914 New Jersey voters on their views regarding gay marriage. The poll found 56 percent back marriage equality and 35 are against it.

Last year, gay marriage was on the verge of becoming legal in New Jersey but Republican Gov. Chris Christie vetoed the measure, saying that he is against marriage equality and that voters should decide on the issue in a ballot referendum. Garden State Equality, New Jersey's leading LGBT organization, however, believes civil rights should not be put to a vote.

Two New Jersey lawmakers, Senate President Stephen Sweeny (D-Gloucester) and Assembly Speaker Sheila Oliver (D-Essex) don't want to let voter decide either - they are pushing for the votes they need to override Christie's veto.

Currently, the state allows same-sex couples to enter into civil unions, which gives them the same rights as marriage. Six same-sex couples are asking a New Jersey judge to invalidate the civil union law, however, and allow them to marry, arguing civil unions do not provide the same projections as marriage, NJ.com reports. The couples are citing the Supreme Court's ruling in order to strengthen their argument.