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Several groups advocating same-sex marriage are joining together in Asbury Park this morning to kick off a statewide campaign to change New Jersey’s laws to allow such unions.

A bill allowing same-sex marriages was passed by the Democratic-controlled legislature last year, but vetoed by Republican Governor Chris Christie.

The New Jersey United For Marriage campaign [NJ United] brings together Garden State Equality and the American Civil Liberties Union of NJ, which are based in the state, as well as the national groups American Unity Fund, Freedom to Marry, Gill Action Fund, Human Rights Campaign and Lambda Legal.

The coalition will announce its campaign at a press conference at 11:00 a.m. in front of Convention Hall on the boardwalk.

“NJ United will broaden the existing coalition of supporters to engage new groups, including Main Street businesses, large corporate employers, industry organizations, and Republicans,” according to a statement from the group.

NJ United is modeled after successful campaign efforts in New York, Rhode Island, Maryland, and Maine, where same-sex marriage was enacted, the statement said.

“Over the past decade, New Jersey activists moved public opinion from minority to majority support for marriage equality. Today, at least three-fifths of New Jerseyans support the freedom to marry. The campaign is in the last leg of a marathon race. NJ United invites everyone to run the last mile with them,” according to the statement.

This morning the Wall Street Journal reported that leading hedge fund managers will be supporting NJ United. 

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