By Brittny Drye

New Jersey lawmakers introduced the highly anticipated “Freedom to Marry” bill yesterday.

A former foe of the legislation, Sen. Steve Sweeney, who voted against the marriage equality bill when it was up for vote last, introduced the bill to the Senate. Sweeney said that the bill will go to key legislative committees “immediately,” putting it on the fast-track to passage, the Star-Ledger reports.

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New Jersey Sen. Steve Sweeney

“This is about doing what’s right and ensuring full equal and civil rights for all New Jerseyans,” said Sweeney. “Two years ago, I made a mistake in abstaining on marriage equality—a mistake that means same-sex couples continue to be denied the very basic civil right to live their lives as they wish. But today isn’t about me correcting my mistake, it’s about correcting a mistake for thousands of loving couples across the state who want nothing more than to be treated equally as their neighbors.”

Should this measure pass both houses, the leadership acknowledged that it is unclear whether the legislature would be able to muster the two-thirds majority required to override a veto from Gov. Chris Christie, who is a long-standing opponent of marriage equality.

Senator Sweeney told reporters; “If the governor cannot raise himself by signing a law to ensure a basic civil right for all residents, we would hope that he would not lower himself by vetoing it.”

Photo: njleg.state.nj.us