I don't know why anyone expected New Jersey governor Chris Christie to commit political suicide and sign that bill legalizing Gay Marriage in his state. A large swath of the current Republican party doesn't forgive their candidates the slightest departure from the right-wing wish list. Had Christie not vetoed the bill, he could forget about ever running for anything else as one of those folks with an "R" after his name. And it's not like the Democrats would have him.
Yes, it is demeaning to gays to have votes held about whether they're entitled to simple human rights and respect…but it can't be as bad as having that denied. They're probably going to win this planned referendum in New Jersey and that will go a long way to burying this issue forever, not just in that state but in others. Every time another state allows two folks of the same gender to wed and then life goes on as before, another hunk of the U.S. opposition to that shrugs and wonders what all the fuss was ever about.