Another “Drag Race” is about to begin: Gentlemen, start your heels! PAGE 29
Family Portrait: Alfie Sosa
UN Human Rights Council affirms rights of LGBTs, set to track abuses
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June 24-30, 2011
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Vol. 35 No. 25
NJ to revisit marriage-equality bill By Jen Colletta jen@epgn.com New Jersey’s sole out lawmaker last week resurrected the legislative effort to legalize same-sex marriage in the Garden State. Assemblyman Reed Gusciora introduced the Freedom of Religion and Equality in Civil Marriage Act June 16. Assemblywoman Connie Wagner signed on as the lead cosponsor, and Gusciora said he is in the midst of circulating memos to his colleagues to encourage cosponsorship. The state Senate rejected a marriage-equality bill in January 2010, preventing the bill from heading to the full Assembly for a vote.
Gusciora sponsored the measure in his chamber in the last session. “I think the legislative route is easier this time around because it’s already been done before, and many members have reconsidered,” Gusciora said. Gusciora noted that, instead of tackling the issue in the legislature, some LGBT advocates have instead favored taking it to the courts, which got the ball rolling on the recognition of same-sex unions with the 2006 directive that led to the creation of civil unions. However, Gusciora noted that the court route could be complicated by the political reality of a Republican governor who is opposed to marriage equality. “The judges are all up for reappointment by [Gov. Chris]
Christie, and I doubt them being in favor of marriage equality when they know they’re going to have to come up for reappointment before this governor,” Gusciora said. Last summer, the New Jersey Supreme Court declined to hear a case filed by Garden State Equality and Lambda Legal on behalf of several same-sex couples, instead advising the plaintiffs to file with the Superior Court. That case has yet to be filed. Gusciora said several Democratic lawmakers who last session abstained from voting for same-sex marriage have since changed to “yes” votes, although Garden State Equality chair Steven Goldstein said supporters don’t have enough affirmative votes to override a promised veto from PAGE 20 Christie.
Sick-days bill Bethlehem adopts nondiscrimination bill awaiting mayoral action By Jen Colletta jen@epgn.com
By Jen Colletta jen@epgn.com In a narrow vote before a packed chamber last week, City Council approved a measure that would mandate private companies in the city to offer their employees paid sick leave, although it is still unclear whether the mayor will sign the bill into law. Council voted 9-8 June 16 to approve the Promoting Healthy Families and Workplaces measure, spearheaded by Councilman Darrell Clarke (D-5th Dist.) and Councilman-at-Large Bill Greenlee. The bill would require companies with 10 or more employees to offer one hour of sick time for every 30 hours they worked, with a maximum of seven eight-hour work days possible, or four days for employees at companies with five to nine employees. Workers can use the time for themselves or to care for sick relatives, including samesex domestic partners. PAGE 18
RELIGIOUS BACKING: Evangelical minister pastor Craig Weidman of Hope Alliance Church of Bethlehem urged his fellow faith leaders to “put down your stones” and support an LGBT-inclusive nondiscrimination ordinance, which the Bethlehem City Council approved unanimously Tuesday night. Photo: Liz Bradbury
The Bethlehem City Council this week unanimously approved a bill that prohibits discrimination on a number of factors, including sexual orientation and gender identity, making it the 21st municipality in the Keystone State to offer an LGBT-inclusive nondiscrimination law. Mayor John Callahan, who introduced the bill to Council in the fall, will sign it into law, but a date has not yet been set. Council adopted the measure Tuesday night after a nearly four-hour public meeting. Adrian Shanker, vice president of Pennsylvania Diversity Network and the lead organizer of the effort to pass the measure, said Wednesday that the excitement of the previous night’s vote had yet to wear off. “It’s such an incredible, amazing feeling that a very large city like Bethlehem took this step and passed a law that will protect everyone in this city,” Shanker said. “After the vote, one person came up to me and disclosed their identity as a trans person and said, ‘Thank you, I feel PAGE 17
The Attic Youth Center, American Bar Association launch campaigns for mental-health services and awareness, respectively, for LGBT youth PAGES 5, 7