Fifty Garden State activists just descended on the nation's capital to lobby our Congressional delegation to pass the Employment Non Discrimination Act and provide LGBT folks with legal protection in the workplace. Presently it's perfectly legal to fire someone for being gay in 29 states. It's worse for transgendered Americans who are unprotected in 38 states. Passing ENDA would make it illegal to an employee based on his/her sexual orientation or gender identity. There are thirteen members of the NJ House delegation and we'll be lobbying all of them (+Lautenberg and Menendez) to vote for equality. In a nutshell, the plan is to "run up the score" with pro-equality votes in places like New Jersey to provide all Americans with the same protections LGBTs have in our state.
Thankfully there is hope that several members of the Jersey GOP House members are considering an equality vote on ENDA, as well. We'll be lobbying them all. Even Scott Garrett.
Today's Jersey ENDA caravan was organized locally by Garden State Equality in conjunction with the National Center of Transgender Equality. You can help by calling your Congressman to tell him the ENDA vote is important to you. Do it tonight and fill their voicemail box with supportive sentiments. Better yet, do it TOMORROW while we're making office visits. The capital switchboard awaits your call at 202-224-2131.
The atmosphere at last night's Garden State Equality rally in Montclair was so much friendlier than the recent GSE foray into Secaucus where the mayor, councilmen and residents were often hostile. Here in Bnai Keshet Synagogue in the land of Senator Nia Gill and Assenblywoman Sheila Oliver it was more like preaching to the choir. Preachers included Assembly Speaker Oliver, Senator Teresa Ruiz of Newark, GSE President Steve Goldstein, and friends of GSE. The choir included a group of some 200 marriage equality enthusiasts, including a large contingent of kids and some teenagers wise beyond their age.
Speaker Oliver talked about the need for resilience on the part of GSE members saying it's just a matter of time for this human rights, civil rights, equality issue. In terms of why the marriage equality bill did not pass the legislature, she spoke of how the matter became framed in the context of religion and how it can be difficult for politicians to vote their gut. She spoke of other concerns she wants to address: Don't Ask, Don't Tell, ENDA, and school bullying. Perhaps alluding to looming battles, she said it is important for Democrats "to define ourselves and not allow others to define us."
Senator Ruiz gave a moving, emotional speech of support drawing on personal experience with a relative. Celebrity stars of GSE commercials spoke passionately as did members of the audience.
After the speeches we took to the streets bearing candles and headed to the GSE office for the traditional pizza - a nice ending for a nice day.
The rallies continue tonight (Friday) in Asbury Park and Monday in Trenton where there are two more opportunities to remind the public that New Jersey's separate, unequal and failed civil union law should should be repealed and a new law enacted that provides true marriage equality. It is important to keep this message in people's minds and hearts as even the courts, which will have to respond to GSE's planned litigation, have been known to listen to the public's pulse.
"Some very good Democrats stood up and supported this issue on the floor of the senate," said Wisniewski. "To hurl a broadside against the one party that stood up for this and say the effort wasn't good enough is throwing the baby out with the bath water."
Um, no it's not. It's not anything like that. There are no babies being thrown out here. As a clever friend put it on hearing the Chair's statement:
No, they are taking the baby out of the cold, slimy, dirty bath water and then giving it a big, warm hug with a fluffy nice towel.
The baby is the group of legislators who stood up for civil rights and equality.
The cold, slimy, dirty bath water is the party organization that refused to stand up for civil rights and equality.
What the Wiz should have said was "I understand where they're coming from." Or "we're going to continue to work to earn the support of all our members." Or even "I hope in time they'll reconsider their decision." Nope. None of the above.
Instead, he went on to say simply that "Not all of our members will agree with other members," though I'm not sure what point that's supposed to make. Well, guess what? Not all of your donors will agree with all of your members either. And when they don't, why would they want to give financial support to those members? (Answer: they wouldn't.)
But, they did, and do, and will continue to support the very good Democrats (and others) who stood up and supported this issue on the floor of the senate and elsewhere. It would have been far more productive and encouraging to hear the Chair acknowledge that fact, and to pledge to help heal the still-fresh wounds from the recent legislative loss.
A big tent doesn't just welcome the donations of time, money and support from a diversity of communities. It stands up for all those communities when it matters most, and works its hardest to keep them in the tent.
Personally, this is a great thing to see, as the Democratic Party (both on the local, state and national levels) have taken progressives for granted - using us as an ATM (or in this instance as coined by someone who I will certainly credit when I remember, a gAyTM) to elect their candidates because "the other party is worse" but then offering little in the way of real change.
"Better than the alternative" has gotten real old real quick - we have had large majorities as well as the Governorship here in NJ for quite some time now - and a good number of progressive issues and causes have gotten little traction. On the Federal level, this is the same story - first it was "we need a majority", then it was "we need a bigger House majority and 60 Senate seats", and even then it took a shitstorm to even get the repeal of DADT on the agenda.
The Democratic Party (again, here in NJ as well as on a national level) should see this as yet another sign of a wake up call. No longer are progressives happy to work and donate to the party structure only to get pushed aside. The rise of the national netroots has given progressives the ability to donate and promote individual candidates based on views, support of issues or to reward for "going to bat" for progressive causes.
Amazingly, equality is one that has to be pushed for over and over and over again - and is one that is pushed aside or given half-hearted "separate but equal" actions.
National and State Democratic Party leaders should sit up and take notice - the progressive netroots and grassroots has been kicked around for long enough, and has been able to organize in one of the few ways that elected officials react to - money and donations. The tired excuses and lack of support by those who made promises in order to gain support and election will most certainly come back and bite them over time.
It may not be this November, but you can bet this is more of a blueprint for future netroots and grassroots campaigns and less of an aberration. The state and national Democratic Parties can ignore this or write it off, but they do so at their own peril.
We're going to give time and space to people who want to write about what happened to this phase of the marriage equality fight. That's only right - people are still upset, and deserve to be, and the fallout is still all over the newspaper pages, the airwaves and the interwebs. - - Promoted by Rosi
Hi, everyone. One of the most interesting articles this weekend about marriage equality is Mary Fuchs' piece today for the Star-Ledger.
Mary provides an inside look at what both sides thought and did. What surprises me about the article: Before the election, our opponents, including legislators and the grassroots opposition leaders, thought our side was running away with victory in a "a slam dunk."
Until this article, I confess I thought the opposition was in la-la land - that they had no idea of how badly they were losing. Before the election, our own vote counting was 100 percent correct. We WERE running away with this and it's in large part because of the Blue Jersey community.
But then one thing happened: Chris Christie won, and as this article reports, that changed EVERYTHING. It was always my fear, my darkest fear, even before the election when we had votes in both houses to spare. It was the one external factor we could not control, though we tried to do what we could, by pouring so much of our organization's time and volunteers into the campaign.
I point this out as consolation - truly important - so you realize, all of you at Blue Jersey who were our equal partners in the legislative phase and will continue to be, no doubt, that you DID wage a winning campaign.
[By the way, as a footnote, this article refers to the protests post-election in front of legislators' houses and all that, which some did on their own. Yes, we advised folks not to do that, both myself for GSE and Rosi in her progressive leadership roles, and we have the advance emails to show for it. But truth be told, we didn't lose a vote there.]
It boggles the mind that the New Jersey Senate could vote down - and by wide margin - a bill recognizing the civil rights of its citizens. Astonishing, too, is that this could happen with supporters by the hundreds - and maybe thousands today - all taking the day off to participate in the proceedings and make their opinions heard. But today's vote is not a surprise; the writing's been on the wall, in blood, for days.
But there is no giving up. All day long I've been asking people whether this finishes it for them. It does not. The movement is resilient. In a few minutes, as soon as everybody gets over there, there is a news conference. Here are Steven Goldstein's remarks, prepared last night, and embargoed to Blue Jersey until now.
Steven Goldstein:
With today's vote in the state Senate, the New Jersey legislature defaulted on its constitutional obligation to provide same-sex couples in New Jersey equal protection, as unanimously mandated by the New Jersey Supreme Court in 2006. That's why we at Garden State Equality are here with our partner Lambda Legal, which has an extraordinary track record of advancing LGBT civil rights in the courts.
Now our organizations will announce major news. Our side is going back to court to win marriage equality.
We'll hear from Lambda Legal in a moment. Let's be clear about what this news means. We are not waiting out the term of any new Administration to bring equality to same-sex couples in our state.
In 2006, the New Jersey Supreme Court told the legislature it could enact marriage or another structure that provides the equal protection of marriage. But the civil union law failed to do that. Too often, civil union couples too often cannot visit loved ones in hospitals, make medical decisions for their partners or receive equal health benefits from employers. Hospitals and employers have treated civil union couples differently because they've been labeled differently. Children have been treated differently at school because their families are labeled differently.
In recent months, including today and at the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing in December, New Jersey legislators publicly recognized these failures. They publicly acknowledged that the civil union law has not provided equal protection. That's important. New Jersey legislators themselves said it. Our opponents in the legislature said it.
Today is the day that the NJ Senate finally votes on marriage equality. This is hardly a news flash for regular readers of this blog, but it's still feels kinda surreal that it's finally show time.
If anyone reading has pics, video or updates to add, please feel free to share here. If you're on site in Trenton, grab a snack cuz it's gonna be a long day....... I estimate the marriage vote to go down sometime around 5:30pm.
If you have ever testified on this issue, if this issue matters to you - gay, straight, married or single, at any age, this is a time to come to the statehouse in Trenton and make sure your legislature hears from you.
UPDATE #3: Statement from Speaker Joe Roberts:
As a strong supporter of marriage equality, I'm pleased to see the legislation will get a debate and a vote on Thursday in the Senate.
Our civil union law has failed to live up to even the most modest of hopes and encourages unequal treatment of same-sex couples and their children. We cannot tolerate anything less than equal treatment for all committed couples, so I hope the bill earns enough support to pass the Senate.
If the Senate approves it, I will take the extraordinary step of bringing the bill directly to the Assembly floor for a vote during our Monday voting session.
UPDATE #2: There is a call to action for this Thursday at 10:30am in front of the statehouse, to march between the statehouse and the statehouse annex, and then talk to legislators before the vote.
More details, address, parking, and reception after the vote, after the jump ...
UPDATE #1 2:10pm: With confirmation that the full Senate will hear bill S1967 Freedom of Religion and Equality in Civil Marriage Act, Senate President Dick Codey issues this statement:
Given the intensely personal nature of this issue, I think the people of this state deserve the right to a formal debate on the Senate floor. I'd like to commend both sides of this issue for their passionate advocacy thus far and the heartfelt testimony that we have heard.
The Senate voting session is scheduled for 2 pm on Thursday, January 7. Further information on accommodations for the media and the general public will be released tomorrow.
Hey, Blue Jersey, let's talk about this. This perspective is one I share, and one Steven & I have discussed - as many of us have - as we've watched not only what our legislators are doing - or not doing - but also how progressives are knitting together in levels of teamwork that crack open new possibilities, and grow new muscle. How does it feel to you, Blue Jersey?- - Rosi
Hi, Blue Jersey, and happy new year to you!
Part of the buzz in Democratic circles in Trenton is this: Look, after the marriage equality battle is over, Chris Christie will be so conservative, so anathema to the progressive Democratic base, that the progressive base - as upset as it is with the state party now - will come rallying to Democrats no matter what we do on marriage equality.
According to this thinking, there's no way progressives would support or even sit out an election between an awful conservative and a Democrat aligned with progressives on every issue but one or two.
This, friends, will indeed be the major debate among us progressives, including here at Blue Jersey, I gather. I, for one, believe we're going to have to make painful choices - choices that will show the state Democratic Party some tough love and prove its theory wrong.
It won't be easy for many of us as we do wind up seeing some far right-wing policies that will drive us nuts.
But for the longer run, to remake the state's Democratic Party - to make it as progressive as rank-and-file Democrats all across New Jersey - we're going to have to take a stand, and it's going to have to have some surprises that shock the establishment and make it clear we progressives will never be taken for granted again.
Otherwise, for years and years to come, the best we will ever do is a state Democratic Party that acts like it does right now.
For those who might think, "What impractical, ideology-driven thinking; it would be ridiculous if we were to cut our noses off to spite our face and sit out an election or oppose Democrats who don't reflect all we stand for," I say this:
You're right - were we to live in Montana. We happen to live in a progressive state where good progressive policies are not at odds with good electoral politics.
If we don't use our own New Jersey as our laboratory for making the party as progressive as its members, we will have defaulted on our obligation to improve the lives of a generation to come.
Assembly Speaker Joe Roberts has signaled that the Assembly will not take up marriage equality as lame duck session resumes Monday, unless the Senate does first.
This is not good enough. New Jerseyans on both sides of this issue deserve an up or down vote from every legislator, in both houses, in both parties. Given that the testimony December 7th before the Senate Judiciary Committee made history - with 7 hours of testimony and 1,300 marriage equality advocates taking the day off to show up at the statehouse (against a few handfuls of opponents), it is right and proper now to hear what the people we elected to represent us have to say. And we want it on the record.
I have statements from Roberts, Garden State Equality Chair Steven Goldstein, and Sen. Loretta Weinberg.
Speaker Joe Roberts:
After more than seven hours of testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Dec. 7 and continued public debate in the weeks since, we've certainly had a chance to hear all sides on marriage equality legislation. I believe ample opportunity has already been given for all views to be heard and additional Assembly committee debate is not needed. I've advised the Senate sponsors that, if the bill is passed by the Senate, I am prepared to bring the bill directly to the Assembly floor for a vote before the end of this legislative session.
UPDATE: Sen. Loretta Weinberg statement to Blue Jersey: It is right and appropriate for the full Senate to now vote. Senator Lesniak and I requested Senate President Codey post the Civil Marriage and Freedom of Religion bill for a vote. Let the public know where the majority party in both houses stand on this civil rights issue so important to a strong segment of our supporters.
Garden State Equality Chair Steven Goldstein:
We're far from dead - in the long and winding road in this marriage equality battle, anything and everything has happened. On an issue like marriage equality, which thousands of key players in the Democratic party support so passionately, you predict at your own peril. Remember, earlier this month, we won a major victory in the Senate Judiciary Committee when no one thought the bill would even go to any committee. We call on Senator Codey and Speaker Roberts to bring the bill to a vote before their respective houses, and in the meantime, we will continue to work day and night for victory soon.
We're not taking this announcement from Trenton lying down - not any of us. Garden State Equality is again massing supporters, gay and straight. I'll add my voice as co-Chair of Democracy for America-NJ, and I know my colleagues on the DFA-NJ board back me up - they include Jeff Gardner. Blue Jersey also stands behind Garden State Equality - this is a matter of fairness and equity for all of us.
An ACTION ALERT, called for MONDAY, by GSE:
We're going back to the statehouse. Meet this Monday at 10:00 am in front of Garden State Equality's Trenton office across from the State House - 110 West State Street. We will lobby and rally - keep up the pressure to do the right thing. Massive turnout is key. Please spread the word.
We know from the wild ride that this year has been that this issue is no longer the province only of the gay people whose committed relationships should be recognized in our community. This is about equality. It's that simple. And that matters to us all - it's about what kind of a state we're going to live in. Fair, or unfair. Our legislators have the responsibility to all of us to commit their votes, and we shouldn't accept anything less.
Senator Loretta Weinberg, prime sponsor of the Marriage Equality Act (S1967) just sent us this statement. We don't usually print statements intact, I'm posting this one exactly as she wrote it. Clearly what prompted it was the brief incident Steven Goldstein apologized for here. But it also goes toward some discussion we've had here about how we talk about the people who hold the fate of equality in marriage in their hands. The words are hers. - promoted by Rosi
I have been working hard to achieve passage of my legislation granting full marriage rights to same-sex couples. While I understand that passions are running high on both sides of this issue, I would ask advocates to maintain the civil and courteous tone that has been established by legislators during these discussions. The overwhelming majority of advocates for and against my bill have focused their arguments on the merits of the legislation and presented them in the appropriate forums - contacting legislators through our district offices or speaking with us at the Statehouse. I thank you all for that.
I strongly urge everyone to continue that approach. It is not appropriate to confront members of the Legislature at their homes or businesses or at private family events in order to engage them on this issue. Please be respectful of us and our families as we have been respectful of your views. And please refrain from passing judgment on the personal religious and moral beliefs of legislators who happen to disagree with your particular belief system. We have been scrupulous in treating everyone's personal beliefs with respect and dignity and I believe we have the right to expect the same from our constituents on both sides of this issue. A person's deeply held religious and spiritual beliefs are not fair game for attack by those who hold different beliefs.
The conversations between lawmakers and the public will continue as we move forward with the Marriage Equality Act. Whether we agree or disagree with your position, I think everyone involved needs to remember that this is a civil rights issue. It can and should be discussed civilly, and in the appropriate forum.
People, I think we all need to take a deep breath. We don't need to use the tactics of the worst of the other side. We're the good guys. - promoted from the diaries by Rosi
Hi, Blue Jersey community - this morning I emailed a letter of apology to Senator Tom Kean Jr., which I include below in its entirety.
But first, additional thoughts. Personal tactics or those which cross a personal zone of privacy are never acceptable. Our opponents have done that to me, as you'll read below, and perhaps others on our side of the marriage equality issue. We all have to be better than that.
Yesterday, in a separate instance, I terminated the employment of a staffer who referred publicly to a different public figure in deeply inappropriate terms. That, by the way, wasn't a free speech issue; it was stupid conduct.
Back to Senator Kean. He has been impeccably fair in this debate. Yes, we may have had a different candidate for U.S. Senate back in 2006. But it is to Tom Kean Jr.'s eternal credit that he has never held it against us in the marriage equality debate. He and his office have been nothing but respectful, meeting with us and being as courteous as can be in every contact we've had with them.
Not only did I send him the apology below, but I have also come to respect the guy very much, and I'm not kidding. Now here's the letter I emailed him this morning:
Dear Senator Kean,
Yesterday I learned, and read in the paper today, that people from the community, some wearing my organization's buttons, appeared outside a family event of yours. I am sickened by this. Though that occurrence was in no way authorized by Garden State Equality - more than 10,000 people have our Equality buttons and more than 4,000 people have our Equality t-shirts from events over the past months - it certainly gave the appearance otherwise.
I recently had protesters opposed to marriage equality chant "God hates fags" outside a personal event of my own, so this kind of tactic is deeply upsetting to me. Last week, someone called my home and left an anti-Semitic message. I know how it feels to have a zone of privacy crossed. Thus I am upset about what happened yesterday beyond words.
I deeply apologize to you that anyone, but anyone, crossed a zone of privacy. I don't care how important an issue is to any one individual, organization or greater community. Garden State Equality, and I as its leader, will never tolerate that kind of invasion of personal privacy.
In fact, as the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on Monday, a number of marriage-equality opponents praised Garden State Equality for how we conduct ourselves in the public arena with respect for their points of view.
On a personal level, I want you to know how much the organization and I respect you. You have been a gentleman over the years and have been gracious in meeting with us and hearing our views. No matter how you vote on this civil rights measure, we will continue to respect and appreciate you for your public service to the people of our state.
I extend to you and your family a joyous holiday season.
Sincerely yours,
Steven Goldstein
Chair and CEO
Garden State Equality
Jay Lassiter planned all along to go down to the statehouse yesterday and blog for us. But then, something happened in his hometown, that made him stay there, to capture for you today what the people of Cherry Hill did when the fools came to town. Great job, Jay - promoted by Rosi
Today the NJ Senate Judiciary voted on gay marriage equality. And what a long strange trip it's been clearing the first hurdle.
- - Updated with great pix from Matt Zinader, hat tip Jay Lassiter.
This is what a muscle flex looks like.
More than 700 people showed up in Trenton today, ready to lobby their legislators and stand behind the change in New Jersey's marriage laws that will allow committed gay and lesbian couples in love to marry like the rest of us.
Steven Goldstein, breathless and jubiliant at both the turnout and the sea of marriage equality supporters in deep blue EQUALITY t-shirts, walked into the statehouse today, arm-in-arm with Marsha Shapiro and Louise Walpin, a long-time committed couple whose care for their seriously ill child was made more difficult because the civil union the state created to protect them as a couple, did not protect them well enough as a family. Behind them, flowed through the heavy doors of our statehouse gay and straight, young and old, experienced political organizers along with people who never lobbied for anything in their lives.
We have a timeline now. Sen. Ray Lesniak confirmed that the full Senate will vote Thursday, Dec. 10 - one week from today - on marriage equality. Lesniak:
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 more than 650 gay marriagesupporters on the Statehouse steps today.
- snip -
And God be willing, we will have 21 votes.
As Senate President Dick Codey confirmed this morning, the Senate Judiciary Committee will consider marriage equality legislation this coming Monday. The legislation must be approved in committee before being sent to the Senate floor for a vote. Take that as a victory, considering that Sen. Paul Sarlo said just days ago that he wasn't even going to bring up ME in the Judiciary Committee unless there were enough votes to pass it in the full Senate.
Here are some pix from South Jersey's Matt Zinader - the rest are after the fold. Thanks Matt!
Great mix of young and older in this, in front of the statehouse
You've read the stories, seen the photos, and watched the video. Now, find out just what went down in Trenton yesterday, and what's going down in the days ahead during this crunchtime for marriage.
As always, we'll be LIVE, and happy to take your calls during the show. To join in the commentary with your own opinions - or your experiences in Trenton yesterday - give us a call tonight at: 646-652-2773.
UPDATE: Don't miss the confirmation from Sen. Weinberg in Comments that she has a committment from Sen. Sarlo and the bill will be forwarded out of committee.
The best news of the day, of course, came via Zach Fink at NJN, who reported today that Paul Sarlo appears to have backpedaled off a statement just Friday that he wasn't going to bring marriage equality up in the Judiciary Committee unless there were enough committee votes to pass it on to the full Senate. And on Friday, he was saying those votes weren't there.
Yes, there are a lot of people in New Jersey that didn't talk about anything else all weekend. And yeah, they're not all gay. Sarlo should feel the weight of that, and if any spike of pressure led to a change in his position, then hell, I'm glad. And if it's true that Sarlo intends now to bring marriage equality forward despite his own struggle with the issue, then I think he deserves everyone's thanks. And he has mine.
Zach's post alludes to an internal struggle inside a party still staggering from loss. Damn right. It's been a crappy month. But I'm not going to accept the loss of the governor's race as a reason why New Jersey should not move forward to do what's right. And you shouldn't have to, either.
The radio ad, warning that same-sex marriage would send the wrong message to children, played over a loudspeaker in a church gym Thursday in Asbury Park, as 200 gay-rights supporters listened in silence at a post-Election Day "emergency action" meeting.
Jenn Harris, a staff member for Garden State Equality, which advocates for same-sex marriage in the state, informed the crowd that the ad, playing on radio stations in New Jersey, was bought by the National Organization for Marriage as part of its $250,000 ad campaign in the state.
Last month, members of the New Jersey Family Policy Council toured New Jersey in a Winnebago nicknamed the "Values Voter Express," stopping in a different county each weekday. The National Organization for Marriage paid for automated calls in every household in selected legislative districts. Catholic bishops had priests statewide distribute letters against same-sex marriage to parishioners, and 150,000 Catholics signed petitions against same-sex marriage last month.
Those groups are confident that if they can defeat marriage equality in lame duck, that'll be the end of the discussion in New Jersey for years:
"After the lame-duck session I think we're confident you're not going to see same-sex marriage brought up," said Brian Brown, executive director of the National Organization for Marriage. "Because Christie said he would veto it."
If you can spend just three minutes on weekdays between 9:00 am and 5:00 pm to call legislators to advocate for marriage equality - you can call from work, home or wherever you may be
GSE will contact you with information about how you can help once you fill out the form. If you care at all about making sure you friends, neighbors, family and people you don't know have equal rights in New Jersey, now is the time for you to get involved.
