TRENTON — Delivering on his promise of swift action, Gov. Chris Christie this afternoon conditionally vetoed the gay marriage bill and suggested appointing an ombudsman to address complaints of same-sex couples and strengthen New Jersey’s civil union law. 
 
 Christie conditionally vetoed the bill six hours after it reached his desk, a day after the state Assembly gave the final legislative approval that he said he would not support. 
 
 "I have been just as adamant that same-sex couples in a civil union deserve the very same rights and benefits enjoyed by married couples — as well as the strict enforcement of those rights and benefits,’’ Christie said in a prepared statement. 
 
 "Discrimination should not be tolerated and any complaint alleging a violation of a citizen’s right should be investigated and, if appropriate, remedied." Do you agree with Gov. Christie's decision to veto the gay marriage bill? 
 
 His action was not the outright veto gay marriage proponents had expected, but still equally unwelcome. 
 
 "Thousands and thousands of New Jersey families are denied financial security, health security and fundamental equal rights every day because of a failed civil union experiment,’’ said Assembly Majority Leader Louis Greenwald (D-Bergen). "And yet in spite of their second-class citizenship, the governor singlehandedly — through the stroke of his pen — seeks to codify discrimination against them.’’ 
 
 Christie continued push his suggestion of the gay marriage issue to a referendum in November to allow New Jersey voters to decide. Republicans fell in line with his recommendation; not a single Republican present on Thursday voted for the gay marriage bill. 
 
 Two years after voting the bill down, the Senate on Monday passed the measure 24-16, with two Republicans crossing the aisle. 
 
 The veto ends legislative action for now. Gay rights activists say they will now work to secure enough votes for an override by the noon Jan. 14, 2014, deadline — the end of this legislative session. They’ll need nearly a dozen more votes in the Assembly and a handful in the Senate. 
 
 Democrats say they’re hopeful they’ll reach their goal in 1½ years because they won the Senate over and they convinced nearly a dozen Assembly members in recent weeks to get their victory on Thursday. 
 
 
 
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 Read the statement from the Garden State Equality chair on Gov. Christie's veto of the marriage equality bill here 
 
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 • Editorial: N.J. Senate vote on gay marriage the start of hard fight 

 Gov. Chris Christie rejected a bill allowing same-sex marriage in New Jersey by quickly vetoing the measure Friday and renewing his call for a ballot question to decide the issue. 
 
 Assemblywoman Bonnie Watson Coleman, left, D-Mercer, and Assembly Speaker Sheila Oliver D-Essex embrace after Oliver spoke on behalf of passing the bill sponsored by Rep. Gusciora legalizing same-sex... (Associated Press) 
 
 A woman in the gallery is overcome by emotion after a bill sponsored by Assemblyman Reed Gusciora D-Trenton, legalizing same-sex marriages, passes and is the final Legislative approval for Marriage Equality... (Associated Press) 
 
 Assembly Speaker Sheila Oliver D-Essex hugs Assemblyman Reed Gusciora D-Trenton, after the bill he sponsored legalizing same-sex marriages, passes and is the final Legislative approval for Marriage Equality... (Associated Press) 
 
 The veto came a day after the state Assembly passed the bill. The state Senate had passed it on Monday. Christie, a Republican who opposes same-sex marriage, had vowed "very swift action" once the measure reached his desk. 
 
 In returning the bill to the Legislature, Christie reaffirmed his view that voters should decide whether to change the definition of marriage in New Jersey. His veto also proposed creating an ombudsman to oversee compliance with the state's civil union law, which same-sex couples have said is flawed and promotes discrimination. 
 
 "I am adhering to what I've said since this bill was first introduced _ an issue of this magnitude and importance, which requires a constitutional amendment, should be left to the people of New Jersey to decide," Christie said in a statement. "I continue to encourage the Legislature to trust the people of New Jersey and seek their input by allowing our citizens to vote on a question that represents a profoundly significant societal change. This is the only path to amend our State Constitution and the best way to resolve the issue of same-sex marriage in our state." 
 
 Democrats who had pushed the bill forward said they were disappointed, but not surprised, by Christie's action. 
 
 "He had a chance to do the right thing, and failed miserably," Senate President Steve Sweeney said. 
 
 Lambda Legal, a civil rights organization focusing on gay rights issues that last year filed a lawsuit for marriage equality in New Jersey, called Christie's veto "an unfortunate detour" in the quest for gay marriage. 
 
 Proponents of the bill said gay marriage is a civil right being denied to gay couples, while opponents said the definition of marriage as a heterosexual institution should not be expanded. The legislation contains a religious opt-out clause, meaning no church clergy would be required to perform gay marriages and places of worship would not have to allow same-sex weddings at their facilities. 
 
 Another gay marriage supporter, Washington state Democratic Gov. Chris Gregoire, also reached out to Christie, a practicing Catholic. Gregoire sent the governor a letter last month offering to talk about gay marriage because, in her words, "while I am a Governor, I am also a Catholic." 
 
 The Roman Catholic Church opposes same-sex marriage. 
 
 Gregoire signed a gay marriage measure into law in Washington on Monday. Her spokeswoman, Karina Shagren, said Christie hasn't responded to the letter. 
 
 Thirty states, including South Carolina, have adopted constitutional amendments banning same-sex marriages, most by defining marriage as a union between a man and a woman. 
 
 Six states and Washington, the capital district, allow gay marriage. Washington state's new gay marriage law is set to go into effect in June. 
 
 Lawmakers in New Jersey have until the end of the legislative session in January 2014 to override the veto. 
 
 Democrats are hoping that support for gay marriage _ 52 percent for gay marriage, 42 against it, in New Jersey, according to one recent voter poll _ will continue growing.
– Proponents of gay marriage in New Jersey will have to try again. Gov. Chris Christie vetoed legislation legalizing same-sex marriages today, just as he promised he would, reports the Star-Ledger. Christie, acting just one day after the Assembly sent the measure to his desk, reiterated his call for the issue to be decided in a voter referendum instead of in the legislature. He also called for some sort of ombudsman to protect the rights of same-sex couple, notes AP. "I have been just as adamant that same-sex couples in a civil union deserve the very same rights and benefits enjoyed by married couples—as well as the strict enforcement of those rights and benefits,’’ he said. What's next? Gay rights advocates say they will keep pushing to get enough votes to override the veto before the legislative session ends on Jan. 14, 2014. Click to read about how they got much better news in Maryland today.