TRENTON -- The New Jersey gay marriage proposal will be considered Monday by a Senate committee and could be posted for a full senate vote later in the week, state Sen. Ray Lesniak said today.

"On Monday in the Judiciary Committee, we're going to vote on marriage equality," Lesniak (D-Union) said, while making the announcement to a crowd of gay marriage supporters on the Statehouse steps today.

"On Thursday the full Senate is going to vote on marriage equality," said Lesniak, a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee." And God be willing, we'll have 21 votes."

Democratic officials previously said they would not put the legislation to a vote unless they had the support needed to pass it.

Senate President Richard Codey later confirmed that the full Senate will vote on the measure on Thursday.

About 650 people came here today in support of the bill's passage. At least a dozen same-sex marriage opponents, mainly a group of Orthodox Jews from Lakewood, held a counter protest at the Statehouse.

Both houses of the Legislature must pass the bill it before it goes to the governor. Outgoing Gov. Jon Corzine has said he would sign it. Incoming Gov. Chris Christie says he would veto it.

Lawmakers in New York on Wednesday rejected a same-sex marriage bill.

New Jersey currently has a civil unions law.

Same-sex marriage supporters march on statehouse

Previous coverage:

• N.Y. Senate rejects bill to legalize gay marriage

• 200 N.J. Dems press for vote on gay marriage

• N.J. voters oppose gay-marriage bill by slim margin, poll finds

• Tom Moran: New Jersey has brief chance to pass gay marriage legislation

• N.J. gay marriage debate heats up following Christie governor's race victory

(The Associated Press contributed to this report)