NJ Gov Christie Warming to Marriage Equality

@ 2026 Equal Entertainment LLC.
All rights reserved

 N.J. Gov Christie Warming to Marriage Equality?
 
 Neal Broverman 
          
          Jan 13, 2012
          
Neal Broverman
Neal Broverman is the Editorial Director, Print of Pride Media, publishers of The Advocate, Out, Out Traveler, and Plus, spending more than 20 years in journalism. He indulges his interest in transportation and urban planning with regular contributions to Los Angeles magazine, and his work has also appeared in the Los Angeles Times and USA Today. He lives in the City of Angels with his husband, children, and their chiweenie.
 See Full Bio   
                  Follow:
                   
New Jersey's high-profile Republican governor Chris Christie is playing coy about his feelings on same-sex marriage, which Democratic lawmakers in the state are trying to enact.
State legislators are making marriage equality a major priority in the upcoming session. Formerly an opponent of gay marriage, senate president Stephen Sweeney now supports it and thinks the legislature has the votes to not only pass a marriage bill, but also override a possible veto from Christie. 
But it's not clear whether Christie will definitely quash such legislation. In the past, he voiced support for keeping New Jersey's civil unions law and holding off on marriage. Now, he's singing a slightly different tune.
"They have a right to set their agenda, I'll set mine, we'll see who gets there first," Christie said on Thursday, according to NJ.com. "When forced to make a decision, if forced to make a decision on it, I'll make a decision." 
 
        FROM OUR SPONSORS
        
        The Latest
        
National 
        Jesse Watters warns women should ‘be careful’ around testosterone-boosted troops: ‘wild animals'
      The Fox News host laughed while making light of sexual violence during a discussion of Pete Hegseth’s testosterone initiative.
 
Jacob Ogles
 
States 
        Florida Republican lawmaker found liable for sexually harassing male staffers, faces resignation calls
      Florida Democrats are demanding that Rep. Fabian Basabe resign after a jury awarded $450,000 to two former staffers.
 
Jacob Ogles
 
Obituaries 
        Out.com founder Jeffrey Newman dies less than a week after partner's death
      The LGBTQ+ media pioneer and homelessness advocate was 58. His longtime partner, Jayson Conner, died four days earlier.
 
Jacob Ogles
 
News 
        Nonprofit crisis line supports marginalized people wary of police intervention
      Call Blackline serves people who may avoid emergency services due to racism, anti-LGBTQ+ bias, or immigration concerns.
 
Jack Walker

 
        More For You
        
        Egypt turns away cruise ship with mostly gay men after Turkey blocked same voyage from docking
     
Christopher Wiggins
 Jul 09, 2026 
Cruise ship the scarlet lady underway with a view of her bow, crew and passenger cabins.

        Peter Titmuss/UCG/Universal Images Group via Getty Images
    
        A Mediterranean cruise chartered for thousands of LGBTQ+ travelers, most of them gay men, has been blocked from docking at a second country along its itinerary because of who the travelers are. Keep Reading → 
 
        Turkish government blocks gay cruise carrying Americans from docking, citing ‘moral standards’
     
Christopher Wiggins
 Jul 03, 2026 
Officials in Türkiye won't allow the Scarlet Lady to dock in the country because it's chartered by an LGBTQ+ travel company. 

        Gerard Bottino/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images
    
        Turkish authorities have blocked an LGBTQ+ cruise carrying mostly American travelers from docking in the country, citing “moral standards” and “family values,” according to CNN. Keep Reading → 
 
        FIFA rejects Iran and Egypt pressure to ban rainbow flags at Seattle World Cup Pride match
     
Christopher Wiggins
 Jun 26, 2026 
FIFA will allow LGBTQ+ Pride flags to fly at a World Cup match between Egypt and Iran in Seattle on June 26, 2026.

        Morgan Hancock/Getty Images
    
        FIFA will allow fans to bring rainbow Pride flags into Seattle Stadium on Friday night for the World Cup match between Iran and Egypt, rejecting pressure from both countries to limit visible support for LGBTQ+ people at a game local organizers have promoted as a Pride Match. Keep Reading → 
 
        Botswana is moving forward on LGBTQ+ rights. The U.S. is regressing
     
Josh Ackley
 May 01, 2026 
Botswana is moving toward LGBTQ+ acceptance as the U.S. turns the other way.

        Shutterstock
    
        It’s hard to find good news in the United States right now, and even harder to notice it when it happens somewhere else. But some of the American evangelical right’s most hatefully aggressive anti-LGBTQ+ campaigns abroad are beginning to come undone. As their influence seems to increase here at home, they are losing ground elsewhere. Botswana has officially removed its anti-sodomy law from its Penal Code. A law that made same sex intimacy illegal. Keep Reading → 
 
        FBI sends plane to Cuba to stop a trans kid from accessing gender-affirming care
     
Jacob Ogles
 Apr 22, 2026 
A private Bombardier Global 6000.

        Joan Valls/Urbanandsport/NurPhoto via Getty Images
    
        The FBI sent a government plane to Cuba to prevent a transgender parent from providing her child with gender-affirming care. Keep Reading → 
 
        Most Popular
        
Opinion 
        Lindsey Graham may have lived deep in the closet. He made others suffer for it
      The stories about the late Republican senator's sexuality may multiply after his death. None of them changes who he chose to be, writes John Casey
 
John Casey
 
Travel 
        29 nude beaches every gay man should visit
      When that sun is out, let those buns out with it!
 
Andrew J. Stillman
Dustin Diehl
 
Opinion 
        I’m queer, not gay. It matters.
      Responding to a recent New York Times guest essay, child and adolescent psychiatrist Chase T. M. Anderson explains why "queer" better reflects their identity, politics, and vision for LGBTQ+ liberation.
 
Chase T.M. Anderson, MD, MS
 
People 
        JD Vance can’t stop thinking about Joe Biden’s 'suggestive' ice cream tongue technique
      The vice president raised eyebrows after telling Joe Rogan that he can’t “get over” Biden’s penchant for ice cream.
 
Mathew Rodriguez
 
National 
        Trump-backed game composer says LGBTQ+ people are ‘existential threat’ to Western civilization
      Marty O’Donnell, the “Halo” composer challenging Democratic Rep. Susie Lee, has also called Pride sinful, said he wants to “bring back shame,” and disparaged gay men.
 
Christopher Wiggins
 
Crime 
        Gunman killed after opening fire outside North Carolina gay bar
      The man had been ejected from Shakey's in Asheville before allegedly opening fire in the parking lot, police said.
 
Jacob Ogles

Site Navigation

N.J. Gov Christie Warming to Marriage Equality?

The Latest

Jesse Watters warns women should ‘be careful’ around testosterone-boosted troops: ‘wild animals'

The Fox News host laughed while making light of sexual violence during a discussion of Pete Hegseth’s testosterone initiative.

Florida Republican lawmaker found liable for sexually harassing male staffers, faces resignation calls

Florida Democrats are demanding that Rep. Fabian Basabe resign after a jury awarded $450,000 to two former staffers.

Out.com founder Jeffrey Newman dies less than a week after partner's death

The LGBTQ+ media pioneer and homelessness advocate was 58. His longtime partner, Jayson Conner, died four days earlier.

Nonprofit crisis line supports marginalized people wary of police intervention

Call Blackline serves people who may avoid emergency services due to racism, anti-LGBTQ+ bias, or immigration concerns.

LGBTQ+ stories deserve to be told.

Russia Announces Chilling Move to Label 'International Public LGBT Movement' as 'Extremist'

Turkey barred a cruise with gay travelers before Egypt turned it away. The Trump admin stayed silent

Edwin Chiloba's killer sentenced to 50 years in prison for murdering the LGBTQ+ activist

Cristiano Ronaldo Supports Gay Marriage

Eleven Celebs Perez Has Bullied

More For You

Egypt turns away cruise ship with mostly gay men after Turkey blocked same voyage from docking

Turkish government blocks gay cruise carrying Americans from docking, citing ‘moral standards’

FIFA rejects Iran and Egypt pressure to ban rainbow flags at Seattle World Cup Pride match

Botswana is moving forward on LGBTQ+ rights. The U.S. is regressing

FBI sends plane to Cuba to stop a trans kid from accessing gender-affirming care

Most Popular

Lindsey Graham may have lived deep in the closet. He made others suffer for it

The stories about the late Republican senator's sexuality may multiply after his death. None of them changes who he chose to be, writes John Casey

29 nude beaches every gay man should visit

When that sun is out, let those buns out with it!

I’m queer, not gay. It matters.

Responding to a recent New York Times guest essay, child and adolescent psychiatrist Chase T. M. Anderson explains why "queer" better reflects their identity, politics, and vision for LGBTQ+ liberation.

JD Vance can’t stop thinking about Joe Biden’s 'suggestive' ice cream tongue technique

The vice president raised eyebrows after telling Joe Rogan that he can’t “get over” Biden’s penchant for ice cream.

Trump-backed game composer says LGBTQ+ people are ‘existential threat’ to Western civilization

Marty O’Donnell, the “Halo” composer challenging Democratic Rep. Susie Lee, has also called Pride sinful, said he wants to “bring back shame,” and disparaged gay men.

Gunman killed after opening fire outside North Carolina gay bar

The man had been ejected from Shakey's in Asheville before allegedly opening fire in the parking lot, police said.

Latest Stories

Stay up to date with the latest in LGBTQ+ news with The Advocate’s email newsletter, in your inbox five days a week.

N.J. Gov Christie Warming to Marriage Equality?

FROM OUR SPONSORS

The Latest

The Fox News host laughed while making light of sexual violence during a discussion of Pete Hegseth’s testosterone initiative.

Florida Democrats are demanding that Rep. Fabian Basabe resign after a jury awarded $450,000 to two former staffers.

The LGBTQ+ media pioneer and homelessness advocate was 58. His longtime partner, Jayson Conner, died four days earlier.

Call Blackline serves people who may avoid emergency services due to racism, anti-LGBTQ+ bias, or immigration concerns.

LGBTQ+ stories deserve to be told.

More For You

Most Popular

The stories about the late Republican senator's sexuality may multiply after his death. None of them changes who he chose to be, writes John Casey

When that sun is out, let those buns out with it!

Responding to a recent New York Times guest essay, child and adolescent psychiatrist Chase T. M. Anderson explains why "queer" better reflects their identity, politics, and vision for LGBTQ+ liberation.

The vice president raised eyebrows after telling Joe Rogan that he can’t “get over” Biden’s penchant for ice cream.

Marty O’Donnell, the “Halo” composer challenging Democratic Rep. Susie Lee, has also called Pride sinful, said he wants to “bring back shame,” and disparaged gay men.

The man had been ejected from Shakey's in Asheville before allegedly opening fire in the parking lot, police said.