NJ Lawmakers End Push for Gay Marriage Law

With gay marriage already legal in New Jersey, state lawmakers have ended their push to codify some of the details through a bill.

State Sen. Loretta Weinberg has removed from discussion a bill on same-sex marriage that was to be debated Monday at a committee hearing. Her decision was first reported by The Star-Ledger.

Advocates for same-sex marriage say it is no longer needed since the state Supreme Court in October allowed gay marriages to move ahead.

The bill included exemptions for clergy, houses of worship and other religious groups.

Advocates say religious institutions are already protected by the U.S. Constitution.

Garden State Equality executive director Troy Stevenson says a bill will still be needed eventually to address whether civil unions are converted to marriages.