Category: New Jersey

NJ library bans gay teen book over complaint from Glenn Beck follower

LGBTQ Nation • Saturday, August 7, 2010 • Filed under: Books and Authors, New Jersey • Comments (7)

A controversial book aimed at gay teens has been banned in the Burlington County, NJ, public library, the decision of a lone librarian acting on a single complaint by a Glenn Beck follower.

The book, Revolutionary Voices: A Multicultural Queer Youth Anthology — a collection of first-person essays by LGBT teen sharing their stories of coming out of the closet — was pulled from the county library after objections from Beverly Marinelli, a Lumberton, NJ woman and a member of the 9.12 Project, a conservative group founded by Beck, a Fox News Channel pundit.

Marinelli described the book as “pervasively vulgar and obscene.”

According to series of emails obtained by the American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey through a Freedom of Information Act, the Library Commission supported the decision by Gail Sweet, the library’s director, to remove “Revolutionary Voices” from circulation, though “no official challenge” was made, and “no actual vote by the commissioners” was taken.

The emails reveal that Sweet not only wanted the book pulled off the library shelf, she wanted to get rid of any trace of it.

“How can we grab the books so they never, ever get back into circulation?” Sweet wrote to a fellow staffer. “Copies need to totally disappear, as it is not a good idea to send copies to the book sale.”

In April, Marinelli, along with others in the local chapter of the 9/12 Project, successfully lobbied in to have the book removed from Rancocas Valley Regional High School in Mount Holly, NJ.

The Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN) describes “Revolutionary Voices,” edited by Amy Sonnie, as “the first creative resource by and for queer and questioning youth of every color, class, religion, gender and ability.”

The book features first-hand coming-out accounts from gay students, and “reflections on identity,” according to the School Library Journal, the largest and most authoritative reviewer of children’s and young adult content. It was named as one of the best adult books for high school students by the Journal in 2001.

Sweet cited her decision to remove the book was that it constituted “child pornography.”

The emails can be read here (PDF).

Previously from LGBTQ Nation:

New Jersey Supreme Court refuses to hear gay marriage case

LGBTQ Nation • Monday, July 26, 2010 • Filed under: New Jersey • Comments (0)

The New Jersey Supreme Court on Monday declined to hear a case from six same-sex couples seeking the right to marry, saying the case needs to wind its way through the lower courts first.

The court said it could not consider the merits of the claim that New Jersey’s civil union law is unconstitutional, until there is a trial record, leaving open the possibility it could hear the argument sometime in the future.

Garden State Equality issued this statement:

Today’s procedural decision by the New Jersey Supreme Court, voting 3 to 3 not to take the marriage equality case directly and all but inviting our side to initiate a new case at trial, is, of course, profoundly disappointing.

Today’s decision represents a delay until the Court hears how the civil union law has devastated same-sex families and their children. And any time justice is delayed, justice is denied.

Continue reading…

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Atlanta CEO shot, killed in undercover gay sting operation in NJ park

LGBTQ Nation • Thursday, July 22, 2010 • Filed under: New Jersey • Comments (0)

Gaymon

The ACLU joined gay rights groups, civic and religious leaders in calling for an independent investigation into the death of a prominent Atlanta CEO who was shot and killed last week during an undercover sweep of alleged homosexual activity in a New Jersey park.

DeFarra “Dean” Gaymon, 48, CEO of the Credit Union of Atlanta, was shot and killed last Friday in Newark’s Branch Brook Park.

Authorities said he was masturbating and propositioned an undercover Essex County sheriff’s detective before a confrontation that led to the fatal shooting.

The undercover officer, whose name has not been released, told investigators that on the evening of June 17, he had returned to the woods after chasing down another suspect, because he realized he had lost his handcuffs.

When he bent down to retrieve his handcuffs, he claims he was approached by Gaymon, a married father of four, and was propositioned for sex.

The former Montclair, NJ resident, in town for his 30-year high school reunion, “appeared to panic” when the detective identified himself and showed his badge in an area of the park known to the Essex County Sheriff’s Office as a gay sex pickup spot, authorities said.

Essex County Prosecutor Robert D. Laurino said Gaymon then assaulted the officer and ran.

“The officer made repeated commands to Mr. Gaymon to stop and submit. Mr. Gaymon ignored those commands, did not raise his arms or make his hands visible and repeatedly threatened to kill the officer,” Laurino said. “Mr. Gaymon then lunged at and attempted to disarm the officer while reaching into his own pocket.”

“What we have here is a situation where an unarmed citizen ends up dead as a result of what would have been a minor crime,” said Deborah Jacobs, executive director for the ACLU-NJ.

A key question asked by all groups involved was why the officer pulled his gun for what Jacobs at the ACLU called “basically a misdemeanor for which you normally get a fine.”

Gaymon’s family is demanding a federal investigation, accusing the officer who said he fired in self defense of lying.

“We know that the police killed an innocent man, with no history of or disposition towards violence,” the Gaymon family said in their statement, according to the Atlanta Journal Constitution.

“Dean Gaymon was a nonviolent, non-aggressive and nonthreatening person his entire life,” said the statement. ” It would have been completely and totally against his nature to ‘tussle’ with a police officer, to resist authority, to assault a police officer…Words such as ‘I am going to kill you’ would not be uttered from him.”

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Lambda Legal, NJ gay couples back in court over right to marry

LGBTQ Nation • Thursday, March 18, 2010 • Filed under: Marriage Equality, New Jersey • Comments (0)

Gay couples who sued New Jersey in 2002 for the right to marry are taking their case back to the State Supreme Court.

Lambda Legal filed a motion Thursday on behalf of six couples and the surviving partner from a seventh, claiming the state continues to discriminate against them even though it offers civil unions to same-sex couples.

“The New Jersey Supreme Court ordered equality for same-sex couples when it decided our marriage lawsuit in 2006, and the legislature has failed to meet that crystal-clear obligation,” said Lambda Legal Deputy Legal Director Hayley Gorenberg.

“Civil unions are a failed legislative experiment in providing equality—marriage equality is the only solution.”

Lambda Legal filed Lewis v. Harris in June 2002 on behalf of seven same-sex couples seeking the right to marry.

The New Jersey Supreme Court issued its ruling on October 25, 2006, unanimously agreeing that it is unconstitutional to give same-sex couples lesser rights than different-sex couples, but leaving the remedy to reach equality up to the legislature.

In January, the New Jersey Senate voted on and failed to pass a marriage equality law.

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NJ gay marriage advocates taking their case back to state supreme court

LGBTQ Nation • Wednesday, March 17, 2010 • Filed under: Marriage Equality, New Jersey • Comments (0)

New Jersey gays rights advocates, with the help of New York-based Lambda Legal, are going back to the New Jersey Supreme Court in order to fight for the right to marry in the Garden State.

Lambda Legal and Garden State Equality have scheduled a new conference for Thursday morning in Trenton to announce their action.

The announcement comes justy two months after a stinging defeat in the New Jersey State Senate, when several legislators apparently backtracked on earlier promises and failed to pass a Marriage Equality law.

In 2006, the New Jersey Supreme Court ruled that barring same-sex couples from the rights and benefits of marriage violated the constitutional promise of equality. The court gave the New Jersey Legislature a deadline of 180 days to correct the violation, with the legislature choosing to create the separate status of civil unions.

Gay marriage advocates are hoping the Court will take their case immediately.

Previously from LGBTQ Nation:

NJ gay rights group halts political party donations, citing gay marriage defeat

LGBTQ Nation • Tuesday, February 9, 2010 • Filed under: Featured, Marriage Equality, New Jersey • Comments (0)

New Jersey’s largest gay rights group is suspending donations to political parties after feeling spurned by Democratic lawmakers who did not pass a gay marriage bill.

In a statement released Monday, Garden State Equality said it will now contribute only to individual candidates and pro-LGBT non-party organizations:

Sending a bold signal that no political party should take the support of the LGBT community and its allies for granted, Garden State Equality’s Board of Directors has unanimously approved a new provision for the organization’s bylaws that immediately precludes Garden State Equality from giving financial contributions to political parties and their affiliated committees.

Under the new policy, Garden State Equality will make financial contributions only to individual candidates and to non-party organizations that further equality for the LGBT community.

“No longer will we let any political party take our money and volunteers with one hand, and slap us in the face with the other when we seek full equality.”

Continue reading…

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New Jersey state senate rejects gay marriage measure

LGBTQ Nation • Thursday, January 7, 2010 • Filed under: Marriage Equality, New Jersey • Comments (0)

The New Jersey state Senate rejected a same-sex marriage bill today, leaving it unlikely the state will have a gay marriage law in the very near future.

Gay marriage supporters rallied outside the NJ Statehouse in Trenton today before the senate vote. Photo: New Jersey Star-Ledger.

The vote was a major victory for opponents who contend the measure would infringe on religious freedom and is not needed because the state already permits civil unions.

The 20-14 vote defeating the measure followed an hour and a half of public debate inside the packed Senate chamber. The nearly thousand supporters and opponents of the bill held rallies on the Statehouse steps.

The measure fell seven votes short of the 21 needed for passage.

Gay-rights advocates had pushed hard to get the bill passed before January 19, when Republican Chris Christie becomes governor. Democratic Gov. Jon Corzine promised to sign the bill if approved by the Legislature but Christie has said he would veto it.

The bill cleared the Judiciary Committee early last month by just one vote, but a vote by the chamber was delayed while supporters of the legislation sought additional support.

Today’s vote follows the same outcome last month in New York, where the state Senate voted down similar legislation to legalize same-sex marriage.

“Today’s vote by the New Jersey Senate perpetuates a system of inequality in the Garden State,” said HRC 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.”

More from the New Jersey Star-Ledger.

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NJ senate leader to call for gay marriage vote on Thursday

LGBTQ Nation • Tuesday, January 5, 2010 • Filed under: Marriage Equality, New Jersey • Comments (0)

There will be a vote on gay marriage in the lame duck session of the New Jersey state legislature, reports WNBC-TV.

“We’re gonna post the bill and see what happens,” Senate President Dick Codey told us.

Codey, and even sponsors of same sex marriage legislation are skeptical if there are enough votes to pass in the State Senate.

Codey said he will post it for debate and a vote Thursday afternoon.

If it does pass the State Senate, it would go to the Assembly which would also have to debate, and then hold a final vote on Monday, the last day of the session.

Gay-rights advocates have been pushing to get the bill through this session, which ends January 12, because Gov. Corzine supports it. Gov.-elect Chris Christie, who will take office Jan. 19, has said he would veto such a measure.

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NJ gay marriage bill tossed back to Senate, vote possible Thursday

LGBTQ Nation • Saturday, January 2, 2010 • Filed under: Marriage Equality, New Jersey • Comments (0)

Garden State Equality March (NJ.com photo)

A bill to legalize gay marriage in New Jersey was left in limbo this week when the state Assembly speaker tossed it back to the Senate on Thursday, while supporters and opponents watch time run out for it to become law.

Speaker Joseph Roberts said he would call a vote on the measure only if the Senate approved the bill first, according to the New Jersey Star-Ledger.

Roberts’ move came three weeks after the Senate Judiciary Committee passed the measure. Instead of setting a Senate vote, leaders there then called upon the Assembly judiciary committee to debate the issue.

“After more than seven hours of testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee on December 7 and continued public debate in the weeks since, we’ve certainly had a chance to hear all sides on marriage equality legislation,” said Roberts.

“I am prepared to bring the bill directly to the Assembly floor for a vote before the end of this legislative session,” he said, provided the bill is passed by the Senate first.

The bill’s sponsors in the upper house, Sen. Loretta Weinberg and Sen. Raymond Lesniak, said they asked Senate President Richard Codey to hold a vote on January 7.

Gay-rights advocates had hoped to push the bill through this session, which ends January 12, because Gov. Corzine supports it. Gov.-elect Chris Christie, who will take office Jan. 19, has said he would veto such a measure.

New Jersey approved civil unions for gay couples three years ago, but critics of civil unions say gay couples have not received the same protections offered by marriages.

Connecticut, Iowa, Massachusetts, Vermont, and New Hampshire have legalized same-sex marriage; just weeks ago the District of Columbia approved a gay marriage bill, which is currently in its congressional review period.

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Springsteen lends voice of support for NJ gay marriage bill

LGBTQ Nation • Friday, December 11, 2009 • Filed under: Celebrities, Marriage Equality, New Jersey • Comments (1)

Bruce-Springsteen

Adding his voice to the debate on gay marriage, native New Jersey resident Bruce Springsteen has called for lawmakers in his state to pass the measure.

“I’ve long believed in and have always spoken out for the rights of same-sex couples,” Springsteen wrote on his website.

“Like many of you who live in New Jersey, I’ve been following the progress of the marriage-equality legislation currently being considered in Trenton.

“I’ve long believed in and have always spoken out for the rights of same sex couples and fully agree with Governor Corzine when he writes that, ‘The marriage-equality issue should be recognized for what it truly is — a civil rights issue that must be approved to assure that every citizen is treated equally under the law.’

“I couldn’t agree more with that statement and urge those who support equal treatment for our gay and lesbian brothers and sisters to let their voices be heard now.”

A state Senate committee approved the bill by one vote on Monday, although Democratic supporters concede it may fall short of the 21 votes needed to pass in the full senate, delaying the vote until the measure can be debated in the Assembly.

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