New Jersey governor Chris Christie (R) described yesterday’s vote in favor of marriage equality in the state Senate as “a good bunch of theater” and predicted that the legislature would not have the votes to override his promised veto of the bill, which would extend marriage rights to gay and lesbian residents in the states. “Yesterday was a good bunch of theater, but that’s all it was. It was theater,” Christie claimed in a press conference this afternoon, and said he expects the assembly to adopt the measure on Thursday. “It would be awfully embarrassing if they didn’t have enough votes in the assembly to pass it, after they made it day one. I’m assuming they will have the votes to pass it”:

CHRISTIE: They’re gonna be nowhere near the votes to override in either chamber. And so hopefully we can move on from this issue. If they pass it on Thursday and send it to my desk, believe me I will take very swift action on the bill and then we can move on to the things the people of New Jersey say are most important to them, which is creating jobs, lowering taxes and continuing the New Jersey comeback and not the last month that we spent, which really is an act of theater on their part because they know it’s not going to happen.

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The Senate voted 24-16 to advance the bill, three votes short of the 27 necessary to override such a veto. New Jersey already offers same-sex civil unions, but a commission found in 2008 that “the Civil Union Act invites and encourages unequal treatment of same-sex couples and their children.” Christie, who has previously said that he would like state residents to vote on the marriage rights of gay and lesbian couples, has claimed that he is offering LGBT equality advocates the “bargain of your life.”

As marriage equality legislation advances in New Jersey, Washington, and Maryland, many conservative groups, such as the National Organization for Marriage and Family Policy Institute of Washington, are discussing the possibility of taking the issue to the ballot. New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R) even called a referendum “the bargain of your life,” suggesting there are no consequences to such an approach.

But Glenda Russell, a psychologist at the University of Colorado at Boulder, has published significant research on the negative impacts of LGBT-related ballot initiatives through the Institute for Gay and Lesbian Strategic Studies (which merged to become part of the Williams Institute). In an unpublished letter to the editor obtained by ThinkProgress, she highlights how problematic Christie’s “bargain” is:

New Jersey’s Governor Christie offers a referendum on same-sex marriage as a way to simultaneously appear reasonable and avoid alienating conservative voters in a possible future national election. “Reasonable,” perhaps—until one considers the impact of such referenda. Decades of research have shown that these elections take a significant psychological toll on people whose lives and loves are objectified, dissected, and subjected to all manner of myths and lies. They divide families and communities and introduce vitriol into conversations among neighbors. Further, Christie is horribly wrong in his assertion that African-Americans “would have been happy to have a referendum on civil rights …” Research demonstrates that when any group’s rights have been submitted to popular vote, they have usually lost those rights. Such outcomes have served as tragic reminders of de Tocqueville’s warning to beware the tyranny of the majority.

Here are some of the severe psychological consequences Russell and other researches have identified:

• LGBT people are stressed by being the focus and target of a “culture war,” having the way they their lives analyzed and debated, enduring the reinforcement of homophobic and heterosexist ideas and stereotypes, and resisting anti-gay rhetoric and pseudo-research.
• The children of same-sex couples also experiences these stresses, which can be compounded by stigma and bullying they may face in school.
• LGBT people face extra psychological risk if they actively engage in the hostile political campaign.
• Communities are divided as individuals “take sides” in the debate.
• Family members can become estranged if they intend to vote differently on these issues.
• The measures also increase stress for the family members of gays, lesbians, and bisexuals who might be impacted by them.

In addition, ballot initiatives are huge financial drains for the community. For example, Minnesota’s marriage fight has already led to over $2 million in fundraising between both proponents and opponents of the discriminatory amendment and the vote is not for another nine months. This is money that could be spent supporting the social welfare rather than fueling a divisive and harmful debate.

To treat ballot initiatives like they have no consequences is foolish. They drain time, money, and morale from the LGBT community, using a plea for “democracy” as an excuse to delay the advance of civil rights.

New Jersey Governor Chris Christie (R) argued that he is offering activists of marriage equality “the bargain of your life” by advocating that the legislature pass a bill asking residents to vote on the right of gay and lesbian people to marry. Speaking at a town hall in Denville on Thursday morning, Christie reiterated his pledge to veto any measure expanding marriage rights, but announced that he has asked Republicans in the legislature to support a popular referendum on the issue:

CHRISTIE: If the majority of the people want [same-sex marriage] prove it. Put it on the ballot, let it be voted on….I’ve told every Republican in the state legislator to vote to put it on the ballot. They need three-fifths to put it on the ballot. The Republicans have two-fifths in the legislature. So that means the Democrats only need to come up with one-fifth of the legislature…this is the bargain of your life. I’m giving you two-fifths! And the polls they show me say that if it goes on the ballot, it will lose. How much more magnanimous can I be? What else do you want me to do? Go campaign for it too? Look, I’m doing the best I can here!

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Earlier this week, Christie apologized for comparing a referendum for same-sex marriage to the Civil Rights movement and suggesting that African Americans would have been better off if the public could have voted to end segregation and discrimination. Christie’s remarks triggered a strong backlash from African-American leaders, such as Rep. John Lewis (D-GA), who suggested Christie “has not read his recent history books” and pointed out that “most of the governors…were outright segregationists.” Newark Mayor Cory Booker responded simply: “Frankly, I wouldn’t be where I am today” if states had voted on civil rights.

Yesterday, the Judiciary Committee of the New Jersey General Assembly voted 5-2 to advance marriage equality legislation and a full Senate vote is scheduled for Tuesday, February 13. State Senate President Steve Sweeney also reiterated his opposition to extending fundamental rights through popular vote. “It’s time for everyone, from the governor to the chattering observers, to stop talking about a marriage equality referendum in terms of ‘if,’” Sweeney said “There will be no referendum on marriage equality in New Jersey, period.”

Earlier this week, 14-year-old Sarah Crank lit up the Internet — and sparked a contentious debate — for asking Maryland lawmakers to defeat a bill legalizing same-sex marriage. Prohibiting gays and lesbians from marrying “would be the best birthday present ever if you would vote no on gay marriage,” Crank said in her testimony and explained, “I really feel bad for the kids who have two parents of the same gender, they have no idea what kind of wonderful experiences they miss out on.”

Well this morning, 15-year-old Madison Galluccio, who is being raised by same-sex parents, effectively countered Crank’s claim as she testified before New Jersey’s House Judiciary Committee in favor of marriage equality. “New Jersey has made me feel discriminated, like I’m some sort of outcast,” she told the committee. “But guess what New Jersey, I’m no outcast. I’m Madison Galluccio and I’m part of the Galluccio family. My parents will be married. And I’ll make sure that this happens ’til the day that I die.” She added:

So please, will you help me? Help me feel equal. We’re no different. I’m no different. And I shouldn’t have to be forced to feel I’m different. This is my family. And I want us to be able to have the same rights as you. So New Jersey, please give me my freedom. Thank you.

Listen (via Jeremy Hooper):

The New Jersey legislature is considering legislation extending marriage rights to gays and lesbians, which Gov. Chris Christie (R) has pledged to veto. (HT: OnTopMagazine)