TRENTON, NJ — New Jersey’s state Senate yesterday defeated a bill to legalize gay marriage, making a state gay-marriage law in the near future very unlikely.

The vote was 20 against, 14 for the bill.

Gay-rights advocates had pushed hard to get the bill passed before Jan. 19, when Republican Chris Christie becomes governor. Democratic Gov. Jon Corzine promised to sign the bill if approved by the Legislature but Christie has said he would veto it.

New Jersey offers civil unions that grant the legal rights of marriage to gay couples. Five states — Connecticut, Iowa, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Vermont — allow gay marriage.