New Jersey Makes Transgender Inclusion Unequivocal

[JackBeck]

Filed by: Matt Foreman
January 7, 2008 4:30 PM

By a 65-10 vote, the New Jersey Assembly today approved legislation making the state’s anti-bullying and hate crimes laws two of the strongest in the country by making transgender-inclusion unequivocal and significantly bolstering the two laws’ enforcement mechanisms. The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Action Fund partnered with Garden State Equality and the Gender Rights Advocacy Association of New Jersey to provide drafting and strategy support for the measure. The legislation passed the state Senate last Thursday by a 35-0 vote. Gov. Jon Corzine’s administration testified in support of the legislation and the governor is expected to sign it into law.

On the heels of a year that closed with Congress stripping transgender people out of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act and pulling LGBT hate crimes protections from the Department of Defense authorization bill, this is an important and much-needed victory. New Jersey has long been a national leader on lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender issues, but today rises to the top with two of the strongest hate crimes and safe schools laws in the country and unequivocal protections for transgender people.


New Jersey has long been a national leader on lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender issues, but today rises to the top with two of the strongest hate crimes and safe schools laws in the country and unequivocal protections for transgender people.

New Jersey will become the 12th state with a transgender-inclusive hate crimes law when this measure is signed into law. The measure also improves existing hate crimes provisions by mandating two hours of training on hate crimes for all new police officers and offering non-sentence penalty options to judges, such as anti-hate sensitivity training for convicted defendants.


More at:
http://www.bilerico.com/2008/01/new_jersey_makes_transgender_inclusion_u.php

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You know, for as much people like to rag on New Jersey, my state is quickly becoming one of the most progressive states in this nation. Corzine has also pledged for full marriage equality in 2009.

And just look at how the Senate and Assembly voted! Wasn't even close.

[Der Blaue Engel]

1. Yay, New Jersey!

:toast:

K&R

[JackBeck]

4. I'm so proud of how strong the vote turned out. n/t

[maddezmom]

2. not from there

but my adoption was finalized there, so I carry I place in my heart for NJ. :thumbsup:

[JackBeck]

5. Adopted, as well.

Born in Philly, but Jersey was where I was adopted and raised. Jersey boy, through and through. Even went to Rutgers in New Brunswick. Did some time in Brooklyn, but now I'm home again. Finally made the hubby a Jersey boy.

Something that stands out in my memory was when Christine Todd Whitman banned t-shirts at the Jersey shore that read, "Silly, faggots. Dicks are for chicks". Even the repugs trend pro-gay in Jersey.

[MuseRider]

3. Way to go!

I am proud that your state is so progressive. I am very happy to read this, thank you.

BTW, I think your state is beautiful, at least the part I was in. :)

[JackBeck]

6. The only ugly parts are right outside of NYC and Philly.

I grew-up in South Jersey among horse farms. My hometown was rated most beautiful by Money Magazine last year (not bragging. Couldn't wait to flee). I sometimes get defensive when well-meaning progressives throw shade on my state, without giving credit to how progressive my state has become.

[MuseRider]

7. Wow Jack

I did not even look and see it was you who posted. Did you work on this? It is a wonderful thing. I think once transgendered people are covered in all ways by the law we will be on the fast track to full equality. For some reason they seem to be the hardest for some people to understand and accept. We are working hard on that here and we are making small gains all the time but then the legislature starts up in next week and it is going to be a doozy. Fingers crossed and lobbyists hired :).

We drove in from just North of New York and basically stayed in that area, a little central for a day then back. I thought it was just beautiful and enjoyed my time there.

[BattyDem]

9. Hey! Our part of the state is not ugly ...

it is simply "cosmetically challenged." ;-)

In any case, our state did a very good thing and I'm proud! :-)

[Chulanowa]

8. That's awesome! Way to go New Jersey n/t

[ThomCat]

10. I hope this really has teeth.

:)

And I hope this really makes a difference.