New Jersey Overwhelmingly Enacts Protections for Transgenders-Slam Dunk for Equality!
TRENTON- On Thursday, December 14, 2006, the New Jersey Legislature added “gender identity or expression” as a protected category under the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination. Assembly Bill A930 passed 69-5-6 and Senate Bill S2407 33-3 in an unprecedented margin for a statewide transgender non-discrimination law!
Barbra Casbar, president of the NJ Stonewall Democrats stated: “The combined ratio of this bipartisan supported legislation (102-8) was more than 12 to1! This was a slam dunk for equality! We anticipate Governor Corzine to sign the bill before the end of the year. “
New Jersey’s new law prohibits discriminatory practices in employment, housing and public accommodations based on “gender identity or expression”— the legislative language that covers transgender people. NJ Stonewall was pleased to partner with GRAANJ and Garden State Equality in several venues to promote the legislation.
NJ Stonewall Board Member Denise Brunner noted, "New Jersey needs this new law desperately! Some people face harassment and discrimination on the job, and they are the lucky ones with some of our citizens facing hundreds of job rejections each, simply because they are transgender." Denise is a deputy vice-chair of the NJ Democratic State Committee and as such is probably the highest ranking transgender within any U.S. state party!
“We applaud all the sponsors, and take great pride in noting that over 30 Democrats took sponsorship roles, representing every demographic category and constituency and note that each brought to bear a portion of the successful outcome. In addition to our primary sponsors, we recognize Judiciary Chair Senator John Adler D-6, Assembly Speaker Pro-Tempore Wilfredo Caraballo, D-29, Senator Loretta Weinberg D-37, Majority Leader Senator Bernard Kenny D-33 and NJ Democratic Committee Chair Assemblyman Joe Cryan D-20 for exercising leadership roles in crucial times to ensure the timely success of the measure. NJ Stonewall Democrats thank Senate President Codey and Speaker Roberts and their staff.” added Ms. Casbar.
New Jersey Stonewall Democrats, an affiliate of the National Stonewall Democrats, are New Jersey’s only grassroots Democratic LGBTI organization. NJSD is committed to electing fair minded Democratic candidates to public office by maximizing Democratic voter support and turnout in our communities.
LINKS
Party Sites
New Jersey Democratic State Committee
LGBTI Community
Gender Rights Advocaty Association of New Jersey
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