Jack Ciattarelli, Republican candidate for governor of New Jersey, is facing backlash after one of his senior aides publicly called for a ban on same-sex marriage — a stance Ciattarelli is now denying.
Dr Ibrar Nadeem, the campaign’s executive director for Muslim relations, made the controversial remarks at a Muslims4JackToo rally on Saturday (19 October). During his speech, Nadeem declared:
“We want to have a ban on same-sex marriage. And I know my brother voted against it. And he will do it again.”
“We talk about family. A family comes into place when a man and a woman get married without the same sex. We oppose same-sex, we oppose same-sex marriage.”
Nadeem’s comments drew applause from the crowd but sparked outrage on social media and in political circles.
Ciattarelli Claims Aide “Spoke Out of Turn”
Though Ciattarelli spoke at the same rally, he did not address Nadeem’s remarks at the time. Instead, he praised his inclusion of Nadeem as a top adviser:
“I am the first gubernatorial candidate in history that has a Muslim as part of his inner circle of advisors, and that advisor is Dr. Ibrar Nadeem.”
Now, under pressure, Ciattarelli has attempted to distance himself from the comments. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), he accused his Democratic opponent, Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill, of “lying” about his position.
“You know I support same sex marriage,” Ciattarelli wrote, while insisting critics were taking Nadeem’s comments about the Jewish community out of context.
Nadeem had also raised eyebrows at the same event by referencing conspiracy-style accusations, saying:
“Somebody said that you are taking money from Jews. I said, check my bank account every day, brother. It is not there.”
Ciattarelli claimed Nadeem was expressing frustration about being criticised for supporting Jewish communities and building bridges between Muslims and non-Muslims.
However, Ciattarelli’s campaign has not clarified how or why Nadeem misrepresented his views on marriage equality.
Ciattarelli’s Record on LGBTQ+ Issues
Ciattarelli’s record paints a mixed picture. As a member of the New Jersey General Assembly, he voted against legalising same-sex marriage in 2012. That bill was ultimately vetoed by then-Governor Chris Christie before the state Supreme Court legalised marriage equality the following year.
In 2021, New Jersey codified same-sex marriage into law, ensuring protections regardless of future court decisions — a reflection of widespread public support for LGBTQ+ rights in the state.
But despite his recent claims of support, Ciattarelli’s campaign website makes no mention of marriage equality. Instead, it highlights a “Parents’ Bill of Rights”, which includes pledges to limit what children are taught about sexual orientation and gender identity in schools.
“Jack will… reform requirements for sexual and social education to make content age-appropriate,” the policy states.
Such “parental rights” legislation has become a widely used tool by conservative candidates to restrict or erase LGBTQ+ content from public schools. Critics argue it fuels anti-LGBTQ+ sentiment under the guise of protecting children.
During his 2021 gubernatorial campaign, Ciattarelli made several controversial remarks, including:
“We’re not teaching gender ID and sexual orientation to kindergarteners… We’re not teaching sodomy in sixth grade. And we’re going to roll back the LGBTQ curriculum. It goes too far.”
LGBTQ+ advocates condemned the statements, with Garden State Equality founder Steven Goldstein saying:
“Who the hell does Jack Ciattarelli think he is? By equating LGBTQ relationships with ‘sodomy,’ Jack is now Frankenstein’s clone of Marjorie Taylor Greene for New Jersey.”
“He is a fringe crackpot who operates in a galaxy far, far away from bipartisan human decency.”
What’s Next?
New Jersey is one of just two states electing a new governor this November, alongside Virginia, where the Republican candidate has similarly voiced opposition to same-sex marriage and LGBTQ+ rights.
With the general election drawing closer, Ciattarelli’s attempt to clarify his position may be too little, too late for some voters, especially those in the LGBTQ+ community who remain wary of his record and rhetoric.
