New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R) came out in clear opposition to gay conversion therapy on Thursday, after facing criticism for his statements the previous day that he was ambivalent about legislation banning the practice on minors.

"Governor Christie does not believe in conversion therapy," spokesman Kevin Roberts told the Newark Star-Ledger on Thursday. "There is no mistaking his point of view on this when you look at his own prior statements where he makes clear that people's sexual orientation is determined at birth."

The Christie's comments about gay conversion therapy that got the governor into hot water came at a press conference Wednesday.

Christie was responding to legislation the New Jersey Senate's health committee passed Monday that bans gay conversion therapy in the state.

"I'm of two minds just on this stuff in general," Christie said. "Number one, I think there should be lots of deference given to parents on raising their children...Generally philosophically, on bills that restrict parents' ability to make decisions on how to care for their children, I'm generally a skeptic of those bills. Now, there can always be exceptions to those rules and this bill may be one of them."

The legislation passed the Senate with only democratic support, according to the Huffington Post.

Reparative or "gay conversion" therapy is conducted under the assumption that gay people can change their sexual orientation through religious guidance and counseling.

Those that perform the therapy operate with the once-popularly held medical opinion that homosexuality is a mental illness.

Many of the democratic New Jersey senators that voted for the bill voiced their outrage at Christie's ambivalence on gay conversion therapy.

"It's an outrageous practice and it has no place in New Jersey," said state Sen. Barbara Buono (D). "That Governor Christie would dignify this shameful practice is disgusting."

California is the only state to have a ban on gay conversion therapy.

Christie says he does not know if he would sign the gay conversion therapy ban into law or not.