N.J. Senate to vote on same-sex marriage

The New Jersey State Senate is scheduled to vote this afternoon on a bill to allow same-sex marriage.

Advocates are already rallying in front of the statehouse in Trenton this morning.

If the bill receives the 21 votes needed in the Senate, the Assembly would vote on the measure on Monday. But legislators have said they doubt the bill has the support needed to pass in the upper house.

Gay rights proponents hope 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.

Five states allow gay marriage. New Jersey allows civil unions, which are supposed to offer the same protections as marriage, but gay rights advocates argue they have not.