Dozens Protest Garrett's Support Of Legislation Protecting Those Against Same-Sex Marriage: Report

More than 60 protestors gathered outside Rep. Scott Garrett’s office Monday, a result of him sponsoring legislation that would protect people and groups who object to same-sex marriage due to religious beliefs.

Garrett is co-sponsoring the First Amendment Defense Act. The legislation would help protect people and groups who cite religious beliefs as a reason for denying services to same-sex couples trying to get married.

“When people spread the kind of hatred that Scott Garrett has spread, it can’t go unanswered,” Andrea Bowen, executive director of Garden State Equality, a New Jersey group that advocates for lesbian, gay, and transgendered residents, told NorthJersey.com.

Protestors said Monday that Garrett’s views do not represent the views of the voters in his district, which includes much of Bergen county, the website reported. They want Garrett to resign.

Jane Clementi, Tyler Clementi’s mother, attended the rally. Tyler killed himself when he was a freshman at Rutgers University in 2010 after his roommate used a webcam to spy on him while he and a man had an encounter in his dorm room, the website reported.

Legislation pending in Congress — the Tyler Clementi Higher Education Anti-Harassment Act — would require universities that receive federal aid to adopt an anti-harassment policy, the website reported. She said the bill should not be tied to any kind of religious exemptions and that schools in policies to protect students regardless of what religion they adhere to or sexual orientation they identify with.

“I do not want it to be connected to any religious exemptions,” she told the website. “It should stand alone.”

(Pictured: Protestors at the rally hold up signs expressing their opinions to Rep. Scott Garrett/Photos courtesy of Andrea Bowen)