New Jersey gays rally for same-sex marriage at State House

 Hundreds of gay marriage supporters took to the Statehouse in Trenton today as lawmakers began their first day of a lame-duck session.

Steven Goldstein, chairman of Garden State Equality, rallied several hundred protesters on West State Street, directing them to take advantage of legislative committee meetings and speak with their senators.

Goldstein said their job was to "see and be seen" in T-shirts bearing the slogan, "Equality, an American Dream."

Although the Senate Judiciary Committee did not consider a same-sex marriage bill today, the turnout was intended to inspire support among lawmakers.

State Sen. Ray Lesniak (D-Union), who is sponsoring the bill in the upper house, said he could feel "the compassion and love in the room" as gay residents and clergy members supporting the legislation lined the walls.

Lesniak sent a letter to lawmakers on Friday, saying "neither the wrath of God nor voters will descend" on the Legislature for putting the issue to a vote.

"Let’s vote our conscience. I hope your conscience says support marriage equality, but if it doesn’t, I understand your view. What I can’t understand is not voting," he wrote in an e-mail.

State Senate President Richard Codey (D-Essex) said "no decision" was made in the Democratic caucus on whether to post the bill.

But opponents of gay marriage still say lawmakers are in agreement with them.

"They don’t have the votes. It would be a real tragedy if it was passed in lame-duck," said Len Deo, president of the nonprofit New Jersey Policy Council, which according to its website supports "traditional families."

The National Organization for Marriage, a Washington D.C.-based nonprofit organization, announced a $500,000 ad campaign today against to defeat a gay marriage law in New Jersey, including radio spots, direct mailers and online advertising.