Gov Christie Fund Raising Trip to Oklahoma for Anti Gay Guard Gov

  A gay rights organization is taking issue with Governor Christie’s fundraising trip to Oklahoma City tonight on behalf of Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin.

Earlier this year Fallin’s general counsel advised the Oklahoma National Guard to stop processing requests for military benefits for same-sex couples at state-owned facilities. Gay couples legally married in other states were told they could apply for benefits at federal facilities. At the time, a spokesman for Fallin said the governor was acting on behalf of voters who in 2004 approved a constitutional amendment that bars gay couples from receiving benefits of marriage.  

Garden State Equality, a leading group in the effort to legalize same-sex marriage in New Jersey, blasted Christie in a statement Wednesday night for supporting Fallin.

Troy Stevenson, the executive director of Garden State Equality and an Oklahoma native, called Fallin’s actions against gay couples “reprehensible.”

“While Governor Christie has never been a proponent of the freedom to marry, he has always claimed to support equal protections for all,” Stevenson said in a statement. “In a time when LGBT rights are quickly becoming a non-partisan issue, it is tragic that Governor Fallin has chosen time and time again to marginalize LGBT Oklahomans.”

Garden State Equality and The Equality Network, a gay rights organization in Oklahoma, called on Christie to “speak out against Governor Fallin’s treatment of not only the brave soldiers of the Oklahoma National Guard, but all Oklahomans that deserve to be treated equally under the law.”

Christie dropped his legal appeal of a lower court ruling to allow same-sex marriage in New Jersey after the state Supreme Court issued a unanimous decision saying that “same-sex couples who cannot marry are not treated equally under the law.” Gay couples began legally marrying in the state on Oct. 21.

Tonight’s trip is the first of three out-of-state fundraisers Christie will attend in the next week. Tomorrow he’ll headline a rally and VIP reception to benefit Idaho Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter. On Wednesday he will be the featured guest at the Vermont GOP’s winter gala.

The events for Fallin and Otter were organized by the Republican Governors Association. Christie became chairman of the group last month, which comes with the responsibility of campaigning and raising money for GOP gubernatorial candidates. There are 36 states with governors races next year, including Oklahoma and Idaho. 

From the Political State blog on NorthJersey.com