Chris Christie Vetoes N.J. Trans Birth Certificate Bill

New Jersey governor Chris Christie vetoed a bill that would simplify the process of obtaining an amended birth certificate for transgender residents, citing a lack of safeguards against fraud and highlighting the importance of a birth certificate as a legal document.

When the bill passed the state Senate late last year, little was known about New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie's stance on the legislation. At the time, Gov. Christie's press secretary Michael Drewniak told The Advocate, "We don't typically comment on pending legislation until and unless it is passed by both houses of the legislature and goes through its normal review process in the Governor's office."

Christie's veto can be overridden by a two-thirds affirmative vote the full legislature, but this looks unlikely, as an override would take six more yes votes in the Senate and nine more in the Assembly than the bill received initially.

Troy Stevenson of Garden State Equality called the decision a "vindictive move to punish the LGBT community," ThinkProgress reports, and Stevenson added that the bill would "have zero effect on anyone else."