Joseph Vitale

A bill sponsored by State Sen. Joseph Vitale (D-Middlesex) failed to muster enough votes tThursday o override Gov. Chris Christie's veto. The bill would have allowed people who have undergone non-surigcal treatment to change their sex obtain a new birth certificate to reflect their new gender. (Andre Malok | NJ Advance Media)

(Andre Malok | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

TRENTON -- By one vote, the state Senate on Thursday failed to override Gov. Chris Christie's veto of a bill that would have permitted people in New Jersey who have undergone a clinical sex change procedure to amend their gender designation on their birth certificates.

Two Republicans, Sens. Diane Allen (R-Burlington) and Christopher "Kip" Bateman (R-Somerset) voted with the 24 Democrats who control the upper house, but a total of 27 was needed to overcome the veto. The bill was withdrawn rather than letting it go down to defeat. That allows the Senate to bring it up again before the current two-year legislative session expires Jan. 12.

"Today's unsuccessful override attempt is a disappointment and a setback to the progress we have made for LGBTQ rights in New Jersey and in the nation," said Sen. Joseph Vitale (D-Middlesex), one of the bill's sponsors.

"This bill would have removed the barriers that transgender New Jerseyans face when requesting changes to such an important and personal identification document as their birth certificate to reflect who they are. It's important to remember that this is their birth certificate, their identification, not the state's," Vitale said.

Chris Christie vetoes bill allowing transgender people to get new birth certificates

A birth certificate can only be changed in New Jersey if someone has specifically undergone sex reassignment surgery.

The bill (S1195) would allow a person's licensed health care provider to certify he or she had undergone "gender transition treatment" based on contemporary medical standards, or the person has an intersex condition. Minors could apply for a new birth certificate if submitted by the parent or guardian, under the bill.

The governor objected to the bill, however, calling a birth certificate "one of the most important legal documents that a person possesses."

"Proposed measures to revise the standards for the issuance of amended birth certificates must be accompanied by appropriate safeguards to mitigate security risks," according to Christie's veto message.

In both veto messages, Christie noted, he has asked the Legislature to take additional measures to alleviate his concerns of "fraud, deception, and abuse." The identical bill was re-submitted, however.

This was the third failed override attempt of the day by Democrats who hold the majority in both houses. The other legislation involved gun control measures.

Susan K. Livio may be reached at slivio@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @SusanKLivio. Find NJ.com Politics on Facebook.