TRENTON – Same-sex marriage opponents decried S1 today before the Senate Judiciary as an attack on a fundamental institution.

John Tomecki, for example, said some of the states that approved such laws are involved in judicial proceedings that may lead to reversals, and he referenced studies that say the foundation of a successful culture is traditional marriage between man and woman.

He said there are studies that talk about how the foundation of a successful culture includes the union of man and woman.   

Len Deo of the N.J. Family Policy Council said many New Jerseyans share that belief of what a marriage is and that it is the courts and legislatures that are attempting to alter that meaning. 

He asked for the committee to let people weigh in with a referendum for a constitutional amendment.

And Republican committee member Kip Bateman told the audience that the governor this morning at a town hall also called for a referendum. Then Bateman said he wanted to confer with the Senate president later on this approach.

But Senate President Steve Sweeney said “Let me address this issue right now. Civil rights is not to be placed on the ballot.’’