N.J. Senate rejects same-sex marriage

The New Jersey Senate today rejected a bill to allow same-sex marriage, ending - for now - advocates' hopes of making the Garden State the sixth state in the country to allow same sex couples to wed.

After about 90 minutes of debate, 14 senators voted in favor of the bill, with 20 opposed. The bill needed 21 affirmative votes to pass.

Senators in favor of same-sex marriage compared the issue to the civil rights battles fought by African-Americans and women, while senators against argued the redefinition of the institution of marriage was a question best put to voters.

While expected, the defeat of the bill marks a significant blow to gay rights activists nationwide who had pinned their hopes on New Jersey.

Advocates had hoped to see the measure passed during the current legislative session because while Gov. Corzine supports the measure, Gov.-elect Christopher J. Christie, who takes office Jan. 19, has said he would veto it.