N.J. Diner Patron Grills Chris Christie on Marriage Equality Opposition

Gov. Chris Christie got grilled on his same-sex marriage stance in a New Jersey diner yesterday.

The governor was making a campaign stop at the Edison Diner Tuesday morning when one of the patrons, Bert Bueno, brought up his position on marriage equality, The Star-Ledger reports.

"How come you're in opposition?" Bueno, a straight woman, asked the Republican leader.

"Listen: Lots of different people have different views on this," Christie responded. "I think marriage should be between a man and a woman. ... My view is: If you want to change it, put it on the ballot. Let everybody decide. It shouldn't be decided by courts. It shouldn't be decided by politicians in Trenton. It should be decided by everybody. If the majority of the people of New Jersey want same-sex marriage, I'll enforce the law."

In a four-minute exchange, Christie claimed that he has gay friends and relatives, and he contested Bueno's stance that marriage equality is "a human rights issue."

"The fact is: We've been very supportive of a lot of other things, like banning gay conversion therapy," said Christie, who signed a bill last month that banned use of the discredited practice on minors. "This is an issue where we have an honest difference of opinion. OK, so you put it on the ballot -- you vote your way, I vote my way. And whoever gets the most votes wins."

A recent poll found that two thirds of registered New Jersey voters support the September 27 decision of Superior Court judge Mary Jacobson to legalize same-sex marriage, which would go into effect October 21.

Christie is appealing the ruling.