New Jersey Democrats push to legalize same-sex marriage

Democrats in the New Jersey Senate on Tuesday announced they planned to override Republican Governor Chris Christie's veto of a marriage equality bill.

"This should not be a partisan issue. In fact, rarely are issues so clear and void of middle ground: you either believe everyone should be treated the same or you don't. The governor's veto was wrong and the Minority Leader should set the example his father set three decades ago when he told legislators to vote their conscience," said Senate President Steve Sweeney.

The New Jersey Legislature approved a bill in February that would allow same-sex couples to legally marry in the state. Christie, however, vetoed the bill and called for a statewide vote because "it should be left to the people of New Jersey to decide."

Christie's veto can only be overcome with a two-thirds majority in both chambers of the New Jersey Legislature. Democrats need to convince three Republicans in the Senate and ten Republicans in the Assembly to vote yes on overriding the governor's veto.

Sweeney said it was wrong to deny LGBT individuals their basic rights "over a simple word."

Watch video, uploaded to YouTube by NJSenDems, below: