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Chris Christie on Civil Rights
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If my kids were gay, I'd give them a hug; but no marriage
Christie and Buono clashed on marriage equality. Asked how he would react if any of his children told him they were gay, Christie maintained his opposition to legalizing same-sex marriage.
"If my children came to me and said they were gay I would grab them and hug them and tell them I love them," Christie said. "I would also tell them that your dad believes that marriage is between one man and one woman."
Source: Newark Star-Ledger on 2013 N.J. Governor debates
, Oct 16, 2013
Supreme Court accepting gay marriage was "a bad decision"
Hours after the Supreme Court's landmark ruling today striking down the federal Defense of Marriage Act, Gov. Chris Christie maintained his opposition to same-sex marriage and lambasted the high court. "It's just another example of judicial supremacy
rather than having the government run by the people we actually vote for," he said of the high court's 5-4 vote. "I thought it was a bad decision." Christie noted that DOMA originated with a Republican Congress & Democratic president. "I thought that
Justice (Anthony) Kennedy's opinion in many respects was incredibly insulting to those people, 340-some members of Congress who voted for the Defense of Marriage Act, and Bill Clinton," he said. "They basically said the only reason to pass that bill
was to demean people."
Christie calls for voters to decide the issue in each state [which pleases liberals]. His opposition to gay marriage could maintain his conservative bone fides while pacifying GOP voters in early primary states.
Source: Newark Star-Ledger on 2013 N.J. Governor's debate
, Jun 27, 2013
Homosexuality is not a sin; people are born that way
Homosexuality is not a sin; people are born that way
Asked whether homosexuality is a sin, Christie said he doesn't think so. "My religion says it's a sin. I mean, I think--but for me I don't--I've always believed that people are born with the predisposition to be homosexual. And so, I think if someone is
Source: Rise to Power, by B. Ingle & M. Symons, p.213
, Jun 5, 2012
Marriage is an institution between one man & one woman
Democrats announced at a State House news conference they would introduce in both houses a marriage equality bill. NJ's civil union law was being challenged in court and the feeling was if it made it to the state Supreme Court the civil union law would
\
I believe marriage is an institution between one man and one woman. I think it's special and unique in society. And I think we can have civil unions that can help to give the same type of legal rights to same sex couples that marriage gives them.
But I just think marriage is a special connotation. And I couldn't see myself changing my mind on that. But I am in favor of making sure that homosexual couples have the same type of legal rights that same--that heterosexual couples have."
Source: Rise to Power, by B. Ingle & M. Symons, p.212-213
, Jun 5, 2012
Vetoed closure of Developmental Disabilities Centers
Underscoring the importance of providing a high quality of life in the most integrated setting possible for New Jersey's residents with developmental disabilities, Gov. Christie today utilized the conditional veto to recommend changes to improve S-2928,
legislation creating the Task Force on the Closure of State Developmental Centers. Gov. Christie's recommendations recognize the importance of this fundamental civil rights issue, establishing a process to study and carefully implement any reduction in
the number of operating developmental centers."It has been my view all along that the decision on whether or not to close a developmental center is first and foremost a civil rights issue and not a budgetary issue," wrote Governor
Christie. "To ensure a better quality of life for individuals with developmental disabilities, New Jersey must provide these individuals with developmental disabilities with the ability to live in the most integrated setting appropriate to their needs."
Source: Press release, "Developmental Disabilities"
, Aug 25, 2011
Pursue civil unions in NJ, but not same-sex marriage
Q: What about same-sex marriage? New York has passed this. Do you think states like New York should have the right to do what they did, or do you believe in a constitutional amendment that would bar states from passing same-sex marriage?
A: I'll tell you, in New Jersey we have a civil union law. And we had a very vigorous debate in late 2009, early 2010--before I became governor--about same-sex marriage, and it failed in the state legislature under a Democratic legislature with
Democratic Governor Jon Corzine. And so my view on it is, in our state we're going to continue to pursue civil unions. I am not a fan of same-sex marriage. It's not something that I support. I believe marriage should be between one man and one woman.
That's my view, and that'll be the view of our state because I wouldn't sign a bill like the one that was in New York.
Source: Interview on NBC "Meet the Press"
, Jun 26, 2011
Homosexuals are born that way; they're not sinners
Q: Is homosexuality a sin?A: Well, my religion says it's a sin. But for me, I've always believed that people are born with the predisposition to be homosexual. And so I think if someone is born that way it's very difficult to say then that's a sin.
But I understand that my Church says that but for me personally I don't look at someone who is homosexual as a sinner.
Q: You support civil unions. You don't support gay marriage. Can you see a situation where you would change your mind about that?
A: I don't think so. I believe marriage is an institution between one man and one woman. I think it's special and unique in society and I think we can have civil unions that help to give the same type of legal rights to same-sex couples that marriage
gives them but I just think marriage is a special connotation. I couldn't change my mind on that but I am in favor of making sure that homosexual couples have the same type of legal rights that heterosexual couples have.
Source: Interview on CNN "Piers Morgan Tonight"
, Jun 15, 2011
Marriage exclusively between one man and one woman
I believe marriage should be exclusively between one man and one woman. While, I have no issue with same sex couples sharing contractual rights, I believe that marriage should remain the exclusive domain of one man and one woman. If a bill legalizing
same sex marriage came to my desk as Governor, I would veto it. If the law were changed by judicial fiat, I would be in favor of a constitutional amendment on the ballot so that voters, not judges, would decide this important social question.
Source: 2009 Gubernatorial campaign website, christiefornj.com
, Jul 21, 2009
Page last updated: Jan 19, 2015
