N.J. governor signs tough anti-bullying bill

Gov. Chris Christie, R-N.J., has signed the Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights. 

The new law requires teachers and school administrators to be trained on how to spot bullying in schools, and mandates "safety teams" to address bullying complaints in each school district in the state.

Human Rights Campaign Statement on New Jersey Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights

Today New Jersey Governor Chris Christie signed a landmark Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights into law.  The legislation, passed almost unanimously by both houses of the state legislature in November, is the toughest state anti-bullying law in the country.  The new law mandates specific anti-bullying procedures for schools across the state and also covers public universities.  After the signing, HRC President Joe Solmonese (pictured) made the following statement:

“This past year we have seen lives ruined and families destroyed by anti-LGBT bullying in all corners of the country.  We know when our elected leaders speak, kids struggling with their identity and self-worth listen.  Today Governor Christie and lawmakers in both houses of New Jersey’s legislature spoke loud and clear in sending a message to all children that they are valued, and to school administrators, educators and support professionals that they must be responsible and effective in addressing anti-LGBT bullying and harassment.  We applaud the Governor and legislative leaders who stood up for all children.  We also commend Garden State Equality for its tireless work over the years to make this law a reality.”

Lambda Legal: Back to court for New Jersey marriage equality

On January 7, Lambda Legal announced plans to return to court after the New Jersey Senate failed to pass a marriage bill, effectively ending any hope for further action this session.

Lambda Legal's historic marriage case, Lewis v. Harris, resulted in victory in 2006 when the New Jersey Supreme Court unanimously ruled in favor of equality for same-sex couples. But the court directed the legislature to address the inequality—leading to New Jersey's hastily passed civil union law.

In December 2008 the NJ Civil Union Review Commission, appointed by the legislature, issued a report documenting how civil unions are a failure that fall short of the court-mandated equal treatment of same-sex couples. The report fed advocacy for the marriage equality legislation that was ultimately voted down in January.

"We will go back to the courts in New Jersey to fight for equality. Too many families are at risk. We cannot wait any longer," said Lambda Legal Executive Director Kevin Cathcart.

HRC responds to New Jersey vote against marriage equality

The Human Rights Campaign, the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender civil rights organization, today expressed disappointment with the New Jersey State Senate for its failure to pass legislation recognizing marriage equality for same-sex couples. The senate voted 14-20 against the bill. The bill had passed out of the Judiciary Committee by a 7 to 6 vote this past December.

“Today’s vote by the New Jersey Senate perpetuates a system of inequality in the Garden State,” said Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese. “Failing to provide loving, committed couples access to marriage leaves them separate and unequal – civil unions are not the same as marriage.”

“HRC provided tremendous help here on the ground, working with our staff and volunteers to push for marriage equality,” said Steven Goldstein, CEO of Garden State Equality. “While we’re disappointed by today’s vote, we’re thankful for the continued support of the Human Rights Campaign. This is not the end of the line. We will continue working towards marriage equality through lobbying, legal challenges, and citizen outreach. Every opportunity to highlight the inequalities experienced by same-sex couples brings us closer to our goal.”

More after the jump.


At this time, five states recognize marriage for same-sex couples under state law: Massachusetts, Connecticut, Iowa, Vermont, and New Hampshire. Five states—California, New Jersey, Oregon, Washington, and Nevada—plus Washington, D.C. provide same-sex couples with access to the state level benefits and responsibilities of marriage, through either civil unions or domestic partnerships.

Colorado, Hawaii, Maine, Maryland, Rhode Island and Wisconsin provide same-sex couples with limited rights and benefits. New York and Washington, D.C. recognize marriages of same-sex couples validly entered into outside of the jurisdiction.

California recognized marriage by same-sex couples between June and November of 2008, before voters approved Proposition 8, which purports to amend the state constitution to prohibit marriage equality. Couples married during that window remain married under California law, but all other same-sex couples can only receive a domestic partnership within the state. The state will recognize out of state same-sex marriages that occurred before November 5, 2008 as marriages and those that occurred on or after November 5, 2008 as domestic partnerships. The Proposition 8 vote has been challenged in federal court; a decision is not expected any time soon.

Same-sex couples do not receive federal rights and benefits in any state. For an electronic map showing where marriage equality stands in the states,check out www.HRC.org/State_Laws.



GLAAD responds to New Jersey vote against marriage equality

The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD), the nation's lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) media advocacy and anti-defamation organization, today continued media monitoring following New Jersey State Senate’s vote to not extend marriage equality to same-sex couples in New Jersey. GLAAD is working to ensure that local and national media outlets are accurate in reporting and ground coverage in the stories of loving and committed couples. These stories will raise awareness among New Jersey residents of the concrete harms that couples face without marriage protections.

“Only with marriage can gay and lesbian families fully take care of each other and today’s vote is a painful loss for couples in New Jersey as well as across the country,” said Jarrett Barrios, President of the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD). "The march towards equality is far from over. The Supreme Court of New Jersey unanimously ruled in 2006 that the New Jersey Constitution demands that same-sex couples must be treated equally and GLAAD joins Garden State Equality and Lambda Legal to continue working for equality in New Jersey.”

“We urge gay and lesbian New Jersey couples and allies to share their stories with their neighbors, friends, co-workers and local media to show legislators that the public supports fairness for all couples.”

“We also encourage media outlets to share stories of the New Jersey couples who are left vulnerable after today’s vote,” Barrios said.

New Jersey: Gay marriage in 2010?

The pressure is on New Jersey lawmakers to enact marriage-equality legislation before Republican Gov.-elect Chris Christie takes office on Jan. 19.

"If the Democrats don't enact marriage equality now, after years of telling us to wait, wait, wait, it will cause a huge schism between the state Democratic Party and not just the gay community, but the entire progressive base," said Steven Goldstein, who heads Garden State Equality.

New Jersey next for gay marriage?

Marriage equality is expected to take center stage in New Jersey this fall when lawmakers are likely to consider a bill to convert the Garden State's civil-unions law for same-sex couples into one offering equal marriage rights to all couples. The Legislature is likely to take up the issue after the Nov. 3 election and prior to the start of the new session in January, according to this article.