Category: Action Alerts
Tell DC: Pass ENDA this Fall!
Tell Congress to Pass the Employment Non-Discrimination Act NOW!
On September 23, the House Education and Labor Committee will hold a hearing to discuss ENDA, the federal employment nondiscrimination law that would ban discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender Americans. It is past time for Congress to pass ENDA — please take action NOW to help us get the support we need. We must tell our Representatives and Senators how important these protections are to LGBT people.
To pass ENDA in Congress in 2009, we must speak up loud and clear! We must flood their offices with calls and emails!
Contact your Representative and Senators to ask them to take swift action to pass the Employment Non-Discrimination Act. Do it today. They need to hear that this bill is our top priority.
Time for the big push!
Send email to your congresscritter automatically: https://admin3.getactive.com/campaign/ENDA_CongressionalCampaign_njlgc
Category: Voter's Guide
GAAMC scores the candidates
Coalition member group GAAMC has published a “scorecard” that lists some of the most important legislation in our community’s history, which NJ elected officials have signed on as cosponsors of these bills, and how they voted.
Download the scorecard here. (PDF file)
Vote! Let your representatives know how vitally important equality and equal protection under the law is to you. You can vote from home by mailing in a simple form.
Great job, GAAMC!
Category: Member Groups
Still time to register for the 2009 Hyacinth Gala
Hyacinth’s 2009 Annual Gala and Silent Auction is Saturday, Nov 7 at Dolce Basking Ridge in Basking Ridge, NJ.
Join Hyacinth for cocktails, silent auction, dinner, and dancing to the music of the Alan Quinn Orchestra.
Gala Honorees:
The Hyacinth award for outstanding contributions to the fight against hiv/aids will be presented to
- Glenn Mattes, President, Tibotec Therapeutics
- Serena Gallagher Boyd, Senior Vice President Media Relations, Universal Republic Records
The inaugural Riki Jacobs award for social justice will be presented to:
- State Senator and Lieutenant Governor Candidate Loretta l. Weinberg
- State Senator Joseph F. Vitale
The Riki Jacobs award for social justice was established this year as a memorial tribute to riki jacobs — executive director of Hyacinth for 16 years — who dedicated
her life to the advancement of social justice, particularly those issues that impact people living with hiv/aids: poverty, racism, and homophobia.
To purchase tables, tickets, and advertising in the Gala journal call patrick Bocco, Director of Fundraising, at 732-246-0204 (x 256) or e-mail pbocco@hyacinth.org
Black tie (optional)
Category: National
Community, allies are ready for National Equality March
This weekend’s National Equality March in Washington, D.C., is meant to send a message to lawmakers that it’s past time for them to enact key measures, including workplace equality and federal hate crimes protections, and to allow gays and lesbians to serve openly in the military. The previous such march took place 30 years ago, in 1979. “This is the first opportunity the new generation of leadership has had to march in the nation’s capital,” said Kip Williams, co-director of the event. Google/The Associated Press (10/7)
Category: Voter's Guide
Register to vote in NJ by Tuesday!
If you live in New Jersey but are not registered to vote in New Jersey, you have until October 13 to register in order to be eligible to vote in NJ on November 3 this year. Registration is easy. Details are available at the following web site:
http://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/how-where-register.html
This year, you will have the opportunity to vote for governor and state assembly representatives and, in some towns, you will have the opportunity to vote for Town Council members. Because the only gubernatorial elections this year are in New Jersey and Virginia, and because there are no federal elections this year, the two gubernatorial races are receiving national press attention and have national implications for how the country is leaning on the progressive/conservative scale. Your vote is important.
If you don’t think you will have time to go to the polls on November 3, you can easily vote by mail. Vote-by-mail ballots must be requested by October 27. Here are the details:
Category: Hate Crimes
Trans-inclusive hate crimes bill passes the House!
Today the House of Representatives voted to expand federal hate crime law to cover offenses based on a victim’s sexual orientation or gender identity! One step closer, but not done yet.
Lawmakers voted 249 to 175 in favor of the legislation. Of the 16 members from the New Jersey delegation only two people voted against it: the always-disappointing 15-term Rep. Christopher Smith [R, NJ-4] and the oh-so-predictable Rep. Scott Garrett [R, NJ-5].
Category: Marriage Equality
NJ Governor Candidate Chris Christie Speaks Against Same-Sex Marriage
At the debate last Thursday night, New Jersey gubernatorial candidate Chris Christie reiterated his opposition to same-sex marriage.
Category: Member Groups
New Jersey Stonewall Democrats Annual Endorsement Meeting
The NJ Stonewall Democrats Annual Endorsement Meeting will be held Tuesday, October 6th, 7p.m. at the office of the Monmouth County Democrats, 64 East Main St. in Freehold, NJ 07728. It is an open meeting.
NJ Stonewall Democrats was founded in January 2000 to bring together Democrats – gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and straight – to fight for the ideals of the Democratic Party. More info can be found on their web site, www.njstonewalldemocrats.org.
Category: Site News
Introducing the all-new NJLGC.ORG website!
We’re pleased as punch to announce the newly upgraded and expanded www.njlgc.org! The outpouring of support was so massive, we were able to launch the new web site early! That’s amazing! What’s new?
- NJ LGBT Event Listing. Our events calendar lists events, meetings and activities held (or co-sponsored) by our member organizations.
- Member organizations are front-and center. As a coalition, we felt it was important to list all our member groups and make it easy to find out more information about them.
- NewsJersey blog. News and events about what’s happening in New Jersey. Plus, the ability for you to post comments. Join in the discussion! This replaces our paper newsletter, saving countless trees! Go green!
- Join, Volunteer, and more. We’ve made it easier to join, volunteer, and more!
Thanks to everyone that has given input on the new design and an extra big thank you to people that donated! We couldn’t have done it without you!
Check the web site every day for updates!
Thank you,
Tom Limoncelli, NJLGC/PLF Webmaster
