FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 24, 2012

Contact: Elizabeth Ray or Anath Hartmann at (703-683-5004)

"NOM supports the right of NJ voters to vote on a constitutional amendment defining marriage as the union of one man and one woman" —Brian Brown

Trenton – The National Organization for Marriage (NOM) today praised Governor Chris Christie for once again expressing his opposition to same-sex marriage and his commitment to veto same-sex marriage legislation.

"NOM supports the right of New Jersey voters to decide this issue by voting on a constitutional amendment defining marriage as the union of one man and one woman just as voters in 30 other states have been able to do," said Brian Brown, NOM's president. "We commend Governor Christie for his principled stance and commitment to veto same-sex marriage legislation pending in the Legislature should it reach his desk."

Christie said in a press conference that the issue of same-sex marriage was being used by legislators for political gain and said that such a "huge societal change" should only be considered in a vote of the people.

"The people of New Jersey do not support same-sex marriage and if given the chance to vote on a constitutional amendment would vote to preserve marriage as the union of one man and one woman," Brown said. "Voters in every state to consider this question have decided that traditional marriage should be protected and have rejected same-sex marriage. This is why legislative backers of gay marriage in New Jersey have already rejected putting a traditional marriage constitutional amendment on the ballot—they know they will lose."

"We urge all legislators to ask themselves if supporters of gay marriage are unwilling to let voters consider a constitutional amendment defining marriage as the union of a man and a woman, is it really appropriate for legislators to impose their own views?" Brown said. "We believe that marriage, the foundational institution of society, should not be discarded under any circumstance."

To schedule an interview with Brian Brown, President of the National Organization for Marriage, please contact Elizabeth Ray, [email protected], (x130) or Anath Hartmann, [email protected], (x105) at 703-683-5004.

###