N.J. Gov. Christie says voters would support gay marriage referendum

A new poll released by Kean University/NJ Speaks found that a majority of the state’s residents would support putting the issue on the November ballot, according to the Star-Ledger. Some 48 percent of the state’s voters would support a marriage referendum, while 37 of likely voters would not, according to the poll.

“I’ve said over the years that I fought too long and too hard against discrimination based on race and color, not to stand up and speak out against discrimination based on sexual orientation,” Lewis said at the Jan. 31 press conference.

Lewis also related the LGBT rights movement to the Civil Rights movement of the 1960s and chastised the idea that the voters should decide the issue.

“Apparently the governor of this state has not read a recent history book,” Lewis said. “The action of Congress, executive orders of presidents and the courts brought down those signs that said white men, colored men, white women, colored women.”

Lewis went on to say that marriage equality is a question of “human dignity.”

“The day will come when look back at this time in history and say, ‘we were just silly,’” Lewis said. “Let’s do what is right, what is fair and what is just.”

Top photo: New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (via New Jersey Office of the Governor)