NJ Makes 14: Gay Marriage Comes to Garden State

Chris Christie drops appeal; Cory Booker ties some knots
By Rob Quinn,  Newser Staff
Posted Oct 21, 2013 3:18 AM CDT
Updated Oct 21, 2013 9:12 AM CDT
NJ Makes 14: Gay Marriage Comes to Garden State
Beth Asaro, left, and Joanne Schailey share a moment with their daughter Kate, 13, after they exchanged vows in the first same-sex marriage in Lambertville, New Jersey history.   (AP Photo/Rich Schultz)

New Jersey officially became the 14th state to allow same-sex marriage today, and it looks like it's going to stay that way. Gov. Chris Christie this morning ordered his administration to drop its appeal of the state Supreme Court decision allowing the unions, Bloomberg reports. The move follows a series of stroke-of-midnight marriages across the state. Senator-elect Cory Booker married nine couples—two of them heterosexual, reports the Star-Ledger.

As Booker was marrying the first couple, a protester screamed, "This is unlawful in the eyes of God and Jesus Christ" when Booker asked if there were any objections. As police removed the man, the crowd cheered when Booker said he was "not hearing any substantive and worthy objections." The ceremonies marked the first time Booker has presided over weddings as mayor. "I wasn't going to marry anybody if I couldn't marry everybody," he said afterward. A handful of towns, however, have refused to grant licenses to same-sex couples, the AP reports. (More New Jersey stories.)

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