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.
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.
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.
Steven Goldstein sent out an email to supporters last night with some reflections on the past week, and a historic one it was. Within the email, he gave a passionate shout out to our very own blog:
I'd like to thank one organization among many - I'll get to the others in the coming days - for being our tireless partners for equality. Blue Jersey, the blog of the state's progressive activist community, has been the unwavering, pure and passionate voice for marriage equality on the web. If you don't regularly visit Blue Jersey - it's at www.BlueJersey.com - you must. There you will find some of the most effective champions of marriage equality anywhere in America.
Special thanks go to all the Blue Jersey front-pagers, including Blue Jersey's editorial director Rosi Efthim.
I'll put Steven's whole email below the fold. It is our honor join with you in this fight for equality and we certainly appreciate the eloquent endorsement. But the work isn't done and we look forward to continuing to stand up for equal rights as this journey continues.
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.
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.
In this morning's news roundup, we linked to a story about how marriage equality activists crowded into the gallery to keep watch on one of the issues prime opponents as he was sworn in, my freshly-minted new Senator Mike Doherty. - - promoted by Rosi. Well-played, Mr. Goldstein.
When hundreds of us packed the Senate gallery yesterday to see the swearing in of Senator Michael Doherty, instead of our EQUALITY The American Dream t-shirts, we should all have worn:
As Day One of the state legislature's lame duck session continues, there are more than 300 pro-equality people who showed up at the statehouse today - fired up and ready to lobby - compared to less than 75 anti-equality advocates, peddling that garbage. Listen up, Senators and Assemblymen. Stakes are high and we're going to remember how this turned out - for years, and elections to come. Photos were just sent in by Joey Novick, who's down there lobbying and snapping pictures right next to Jay Lassiter (whose photos are here).
Joey's pix:
3 lonely rabbis and a camera. Turnout's light for the anti-equality crowd
Rev. Bruce Davidson & religious leaders speaking for equality
A campaign can never control its surrogates, but the Corzine campaign opened the door to a flood of idiocy when they started obliquely referring to Chris Christie's obviously unhealthy weight problem in an ad last month. The Corzine campaign seemingly wanted to be sure people knew it, but didn't want to be called on it. They tried to do the Rovian dog-whistle thing where they could pretend not to have said what they implied, but the media and Christie partisans glommed onto it in a successful effort to distract from various mini-scandals like abuse of power to avoid tickets, over-paying for hotel rooms and travel, poor policy statements from the primary, etc.
But when you whistle, dogs hear it and start to bark. Unfortunately, we now see a series of barks on Twitter and other places. Democratic state chairman Joe Cryan asked how it would feel to have the heavy Christie as Governor. Steven Goldstein, who is supposed to be a champion of tolerance, told a joke suggesting people mistook Christie for a large balloon floating over the state.
Sure, dog whistling worked great for Bush for six years, but it imploded and we see the results. We're supposed to be better than that, fighting for the issues that matter for people and not just doing whatever disgusting thing is needed to win elections. Corzine, who is a good and decent man (sometimes to his detriment), is better than this.
There are so many issues in this campaign that matter to New Jersey and our future. A Christie administration would gut education and health care, the foundations of a good place to live. The environment, contrary to the Tittle-ing crowds, would get short shrift and likely irreparably damaged. Whatever political good will there is in this state would be removed under Christie's My Way Or The Highway attitude.
Added to that, Corzine has a good story to tell. He has cut the budget by almost 15 percent during his time, and reduced the state workforce. While there are more types of taxes, there are fewer dollars collected. Our math scores are up, our air is cleaner, more money is going to property tax relief, and more people -- including children -- have health insurance while the national trend is for people to lose it.
There are a thousand reasons to oppose Chris Christie in this election, and just as many to support Jon Corzine. Christie's health should be a concern for voters as the health of any candidate is, but it should not be a campaign issue.
Re-promoted for a Merry Christmas. If you're reading today, maybe you have 10 minutes to reflect on the year in NJ politics. Enjoy and don't forget to take the poll! -JG
What better way to celebrate a memorable year than with a top 10 list? As a blogger, activist and campaign worker, this was my perspective as seen (entirely) thorugh the lens of my wecam or iPhone.
Hopefully something for everyone. Take the poll and share what would make your top ten list!
Blue Jersey Radio recorded LIVE from the Garden State Equality Town Hall here. South Jersey Town Hall tomorrow. DFA-NJ Opening Night of MilkFriday night.
I am now going to out myself. Yes, as a person who came very late to support marriage equality.
This is not news for anybody who knows me. And I've said the same, uncomfortably and shuffling my feet, in front of a microphone at Town Halls with Garden State Equality, which has had the good sense to welcome straight people like me into this movement for change.
But here's the thing. When you invite the straights in, you never know what you're going to get. And one day, they got me. If you haven't been to one, GSE Town Hall meetings are a combination old-fashioned tent meeting, precision-drilled presentation (founder Steven Goldstein used to produce Oprah), occasional display of gay fabulousness, and lots of children running around - always welcomed - their grownups with the look of full-out determination.
Frequently, there are balloons. But GSE Town Halls are very serious business. You're welcomed if you are still thinking about the question of whether New Jersey should change its laws to allow same-sex marriage. But the reasons you'll hear are so compelling, that you'll probably leave convinced. And maybe even, recruited.
I was recruited. Gay marriage, which is how most straight people think of what gay people call marriage equality didn't hit me right at the beginning of this movement. Oh, I was all for equality, who isn't? So, I was solid behind domestic partnership, or civil unions, or anything else that brought parity to gay couples in love.
But marriage? Marriage to me, a few years ago, was something else entirely, by definition the union of woman to man. Clearly understood, everybody knew what it was. And gay people were doing something .... else.
I don't like admitting my wrongness. I'm a progressive activist, and I'm often the person in the front of a room helping organize things. But I can be slow. And I had to listen to some people to figure it out. Teenagers whose schoolmates didn't recognize their civil unioned families as real, workers whose employers wouldn't extend the rights afforded under civil unions, loving couples who felt like their families were accorded second-class status. And, maybe worst of all, is the uncertainty civil unioned couples felt in a hospital, in a health care crisis.
A response from Steven to the post earlier today -- Hopeful.
Hi, everyone. My friend Creed Pogue blasted me in another posting. He entitled to his view. Here I'd like to refute him.
Creed's headline, Clinton Delegate Says He Wouldn't Vote For Obama, is nuts. Creed is referring to me, a Clinton delegate. I'm a Democrat, I bleed Democrat, I'm voting for the Presidential nominee of my party, period.
Specifically, Creed is referring to the article in PolitickerNJ.com today in which I was quoted as saying I would not vote for Obama if he chose Sam Nunn as his running mate. Yes, that's true, I was quoted correctly. But it's not the same thing as a headline that would have you believe I'm not voting for Obama in November, period.
As expected, Steven was GREAT! I'm so excited about the soon-to-be-announced co-sponsors - JG
Each week, Blue Jersey Radio brings you a half hour of New Jersey's best political buzz, interviews with newsmakers, and your stimulating calls.
Tonight, Wednesday, April 30th at 8:30pm: join us and our special guest: Garden State EqualityChair Steven Goldstein, talking about the struggle for marriage equality in NJ, GSE's upcoming Neighborhood Action Summits, and the future of GLBT and progressive politics.
As always, we invite you to call in LIVE at: 646-652-2773.
Questions ahead of the show? Drop 'em in the comments, and tune in tonight at 8:30.
Talk to you then!
(And if you missed last week's show, featuring special guest callers Congressman Rob Andrews and Newark City Councilman Ron Rice, Jr., it's still worth a listen- JG).
What an amazing night at the Legends Dinner! I was fortunate to attend last night at the Maplewood Country Club. It was incredible for so many reasons. So many of the people I respect so much in NJ progressive politics were there and were recognized for their incredible work. I saw a lot of friends from Blue Jersey as well. But it was a moment in history where we still stand to make a huge difference in so many lives.
It was a night of fun, but it was a major call to action. We CANNOT act as if the civil rights movement was over decades ago. Not when there are friends and family treated as second class citizens TODAY. Friends in same sex marriages that we are not allowed to call marriage because some wish to perpetuate discrimination. That is not equal protection under the law.
This week one of my best friends told me that he and his partner of 10 years are to be civil-unioned this month. I wish I could be happier, but I know the problems they are likely to still encounter because as one speaker last night remarked "Separate is NOT equal".
I am not a religious person but I do believe in karma. How can marriage be a bad thing - ever - for anyone? It is a promise of care, of strength, of support. How can we deny that to anyone? Why would we want to?
The ridiculousness of the situation was underscored by Cynthia Nixon last night who spoke of how when she was with a man for years her friends and family hounded her about not IF she could get married, but WHEN she WOULD get married. I get the same flak when friends and family ask WHEN Eric and I, who have been together for 13 years are finally going to get married. I used to always give a similar answer as Cynthia. I'd say I already have a toaster and a microwave and coffeemaker. Although I don't choose marriage for myself right now, I am damned if I am going to sit by and let my friends who are entitled to liberty and happiness like our Founding Fathers expressed so eloquently, be deprived of it. Especially in an age of war and hatred and destruction - when the entropy of our current world assails our spirits daily. We have Americans here who want to create something beautiful and good and harmonious. How in the world is that wrong?
That Laurel Hester had to fight to the end to get rights that should have been hers all along is a travesty. In a country where in some places, Eric and I would be considered married by now simply by being together this long. I am ashamed. Ashamed to live in a place where we are still not equal. Words do matter, and so do laws, and so does fairness, equality and basic decency.
I remember so clearly only twenty years ago when I was at work and heard another worker bragging about how he would wait outside the local gay bars with his friends just to beat up whoever came out of the bar. I was appalled and infuriated. Americans are still discriminated against, and even murdered in cold blood simply for being who they are. It STILL happens. TO THIS VERY DAY. We are not free until all of us are. And we are not EQUAL until we are no longer separated by ridiculous fears and words that ARE different. A Civil Union, it was pointed out last night, can actually get military folks fired for outing them or CAUSE descrimination because only SAME SEX couples get Civil Unioned.
I hope for my friends about to be Civil Unioned this month that I will soon be able to call them MARRIED and the state of NJ and the world will be as happy for them as I am. I want too that they have all the rights and privileges they deserve for making the world a more harmonious, loving and a better place.
Please help Garden State Equality any way you can and show support for Marriage equality here in NJ. The Legends Dinner was only last night, but Steven and Garden State Equality will be working hard every minute until we are all truly equal. Lets help them.
A common refrain from those who oppose equal rights for gay couples is that allowing gays to marry and raise families will somehow throw the earth off its axis and crumble the institution of marriage.
But yesterday at the Statehouse we were treated to some unexpected honesty from John "Chicken Little" Tomicki, president of the misnamed "New Jersey Coalition to Preserve and Protect Marriage."
Chairman of Garden State Equality Steven Goldstein, who was married in Canada a few years ago, confronted Tomicki about his claims during a press conference.
Goldstein: "You're still married after 50 years, right? So my marriage has not affected your marriage."
Tomicki responded incredulously: "Why would it?"
And now with that smoke screen blown away, there's not much left to hide the naked homophobia.
Last week Garden State Equality chairman Steven Goldstein projected that they are just a few votes short of a majority in support of marriage equality, with about 19 votes in the Senate and 39 in the Assembly, where 21 and 41, respectively are needed for a majority.
In an email to supporters, Len Deo of the NJ Family Policy Council - a right wing group trying to impose it's extremist theocratic agenda on New Jersey - said that their "own contacts confirm support for the same-sex "marriage" bill is a couple legislators short."
That huge admission must be discouraging to his followers, but Deo assures them "we will continue to fight the good fight," a political euphemism for "we're going to lose."
Stirring their homophobic sheep into a rabid and very premature frenzy, the National Organization for Marriage is urging their supporters to flood Corzine and the legislature with calls and emails opposing equal marriage rights for all. On the page they set up so out-of-state supporters can contactall 120 New Jersey legislators, the default state in the personal information section is Connecticut. The NJ Family Policy Council also asked supporters to flood legislators with phone calls.
Here's the deal. After November's election, the makeup of the legislature shifted to be considerably less reactionary and more pro-equality than it is now. An email from Garden State Equality chairman Steven Goldstein to some core supporters explained:
In the 2007 elections, we picked up four votes for marriage equality in the Senate, vital in a relatively small body. By our count, in the incoming Senate, before we even start lobbying, we'll be 19 Senators who are solid "yes" votes or leans "yes" votes, with our needing 21 votes to win. In the incoming Assembly -- where vote counts in a larger body can vary more -- we can project at least 39 solidly "yes" votes or leans "yes" votes, with our needing 41 votes to win. We can also project clearing 41 votes in the incoming Assembly, but the worst thing in lobbying is rose-colored glasses.
It would be foolish to try to pass marriage equality legislation during the lame duck period, but these clearly overpaid and out of touch lobbyists somehow got the idea that that was the case. Probably because Senators Ray Lesniak and Loretta Weinberg recently introduced the complement to Assemblyman Reed Gusciora's marriage equality bill. They really believe it because they're even burning money on a 101.5 radio ad (almost identical to an ad run in Wisconsin in 2006) and annoying legislators with calls.
"At this point, they're just wasting their money with the phone calls. Somebody's giving them bad information," Codey said. "It's jamming our phone lines and we can't do our work here."
Goldstein explains why they're not responding in kind:
Quite frankly, it would be a snap for us to gin up three times the calls and emails to legislators that the right-wing is doing now. We've done that time and again over the past couple of years, to the point where legislators have called us begging us to stop.
The difference, of course, is that our calls and emails are really from New Jerseyans, and not from professional right-wing activists from places like Utah. The right-wing is in free-fall panic because the failure of New Jersey's civil union law to provide equality to same-sex couples -- as marriage would -- is moving new legislators to our side all the time. [...]
Friends, polls can gauge horse-race numbers, where we do well in New Jersey, but they cannot gauge intensity. The fact is, opponents of marriage equality in New Jersey aren't anywhere near as intense as we supporters in our socially progressive state. That's why our opponents have to bring in out-of-state ringers to do their calls and emails.
When your opponents are clueless and burning their resources, the best thing to do is stand back and watch:
We've made a conscious decision to rope-a-dope the right wing now. Let the right-wing exhaust itself silly during this lame duck. We'll turn the burners back on high after lame duck.
For now, Goldstein says his focus during the lame duck is passing a hate crimes bill:
The bill is as desperately needed, yet as noncontroversial as can be -- we haven't met anyone who opposes it. The state's hate-crimes law hasn't been updated in years, and an FBI report just came out ranking New Jersey #2, tragically, in the number of hate crimes among all U.S. states.
This isn't merely an LGBT bill, it's a bill to help all minorities affected by hate crimes.
Yesterday New Jersey's GLBT community flexed its political muscle with a gala fund raiser to support pro-equality Senate candidates in next month's elections. (Too much is at stake to let the GOP take the reigns, for a whole host of reasons too numerous to name but that's not for here...) Hosted by Garden State Equality, the annual Blue Jean Ball served three primary functions: to raise money, to have fun and to recognize some amazing New Jerseyans whose courage makes us all less unequal.
Andre Jackson takes the Hester Prize at the GSE gala. Click to enlarge
The day's top prize, the Laurel Hester Award went to Andre Jackson, he of the infamous yearbook flap earlier this year. While it's a shame that Andre was forced to endure such an ugly and public battle, the experience has clearly molded him into a poised and articulate civil rights champion. (Me and my blogmates here at Blue Jersey won last year's Hester Prize, and it feels really good to pass the torch to someone like Andre.)
Congressman Rush Holt and NJ Senator Ellen Karcher followed Andre on stage to an enthusiastic response, but it was still young Mr. Jackson who scored the day's only standing ovation.
Congressman Holt, NJ Sen Karcher
Probably the best thing about the BBQ was the atmosphere. the setting was (mostly red) Hunterdon County: lovely, bucolic, a pitch-perfect fall day. The theme: country western, and for good reason. The party was at a horse farmstead. Jersey Fresh, indeed.
Early in the day I was sharing a moment with a friend about my age (35) when the entire arc of my liberal activist life seemed to flash before my eyes. You see, there we were yesterday, the GLBT community (and allies) coming together to fight for marriage equality. When suddenly I had a flashback to what got me into politics to begin with: the AIDS crisis. Sitting there on that lovely farm with so many hundreds of nice people -- many with their pets and kids in tow -- listening to an amazing band and it felt so far removed from my early ACT UP days. I confess: I prefer issues like full marriage equality and transgender solidarity over watching my friends dropping dead of AIDS any day.
I suggest such a radical evolution would have been impossible without the Steven Goldsteins of this world who remain unflinchingly relentless in the face of inequality.
Moments ago, in another huge victory for the LGBT community in Ocean Grove and all New Jersey, a federal judge refused to issue a restraining order that would have prevented the New Jersey Division on Civil Rights from investigating two complaints filed against the Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association for banning civil unions on the public boardwalk in Ocean Grove.
This is the latest in a series of losses for the Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association, which last month lost a portion of its tax-exempt status for its banning civil unions on the public boardwalk.
"When is the Camp Meeting Association going to wake up and smell the coffee?" said Steven Goldstein, chair of Garden State Equality. "It continues to suffer loss after loss in its pathetic quest to enshrine discrimination on a public boardwalk. Right now, no legal scholar in his or her right mind believes the Camp Meeting Association has a prayer of winning this battle."
