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NJLGC 2005 Governor Race Questionaire
NJLGC is a non-partisian organization and therefore does not make
political endorsements. However, we do provide the educational service
of making people aware how candidates stand on issues important to
New Jersey's GLBTI community.
Earlier this year we sent questionaires to both candidates
running for NJ Governor. Here his how the responded.
While Forrester answered most questions in the affirmative, Corzine's
answers showed a depth of knowledge about the issue that made his
answers stand out. Forrester also shied away from taking a firm stand
on the most important issue facing the AIDS/HIV community today.
- Do you support bill A3678, civil rights legislation
that would amend NJ’s Law Against Discrimination to explicitly ban
discrimination against transgendered and gender variant
people?
Forrester: Yes
Corzine: Yes. I strongly support the full
enforcement of the current New Jersey Law Against Discrimination, and I
want to ensure that our law protects against all types of
discrimination. If our current law does not prohibit gender identity
of expression discrimination, then I would work with the Legislature to
change our law.
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- Would you support legislation to extend to committed
same sex couples the same civil benefits, obligations, and protections
as are currently extended by state law to married
couples?
Forrester: Did not directly answer question, provided written
comments only: "I support NJ's current
domestic partnership laws."
Corzine: Yes. I believe that civil unions or domestic
partnership can be effective ways to help achieve equal treatment under
the law for all citizens. I support New Jersey's domestic
partnership law, and I will work with the community to find ways to remove
barriers to equality that still exist.
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- Would you support legislation to legalize the
possession and sale of clean hypodermic syringes and needles to NJ
residents, to protect their health and to prevent the spread of HIV,
Hepatitis C and other blood-borne diseases?
Forrester: Did not directly answer question, provided written
comments only: "My primary goal will be
to educate individuals about the dangers of needle sharing and to help
them move away from addiction completely."
Corzine: Yes. I support the
New Jersey pilot program to explore the use of needle exchanges to reduce
the incidence of AIDS/HIV, hepatitis, and other life-threatening diseases,
and I believe we need to defend the program (and the Executive Order that
created the program) against legal challenges. I also support
legislation that would codify the Executive Order. I will review the
experts' analysis of the pilot program to determine the long-term
viability of the program statewide.
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- Would
you support legislation to extend New
Jersey hate crimes statutes to protect
transgendered and gender variant
people?
Forrester: Yes
Corzine: I have been an outspoken advocate for strengthening
this country's hate crimes law. As mentioned above, I have
co-sponsored the Local Law Enforcement Act, a bill that would give
assistance to federal and state authorities in prosecuting hate
crimes. I would support strengthening the New Jersey hate
crimes law to include any group of citizens that experiences
discrimination.
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- Would
you support legislation to strengthen NJ’s hate crimes statutes to add
further protection to NJ’s communities of
color?
Forrester:
Yes
Corzine: Yes. See my answer to question
four. |
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