Over 800 people attended a gala fundraising dinner on Saturday for Garden State Equality, a gay rights organization that advocates same sex marriage.  Tickets were between $225 and $1,000.  Governor Jon Corzine told the attendees that he would sign a marriage equality law, saying he hopes he gets to do that in 2009.

The Corzine administration also announced a new regulation allowing transgender New Jerseyans would to provide an affidavit of their gender identity to get the Motor Vehicle Commission to change the gender on their license to drive.  In the past, the state had required gender reassignment surgery.

The Legislature is widely expected to consider same sex marriage legislation after the November election.