Press

Governor Christine Todd Whitman's Proclamation in NJ for Equality Begins at Home

MEDIA CONTACT:
Roberta Sklar, Director of Communications
media@theTaskForce.org
646.358.1465

March 18, 1999

State of New Jersey
Executive Department

Proclamation

Whereas in the 30th Anniversary year of the Stonewall Rebellion — the birth of the modern gay rights movement — the Federation of Statewide Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Political Organizations is launching the first nationwide week of action — Equality Begins At Home — to be held from March 21 to March 27, 1999; and

Whereas, New Jersey is the fifth state to have enacted laws to provide protections against discrimination based on sexual orientation; and

Whereas, it is appropriate for organized community groups to enjoy a close working relationship with local, state and federal governmental agencies in the areas of HIV/AIDS education, teenage suicide prevention, bias crimes reduction and other issues; and

Whereas, we must remain vigilant against the bigotry that continues to denounce gays, lesbians, and bisexuals, and encourages violence against members of this community;

Now, therefore, I, Christine Todd Whitman, Governor of the State of New Jersey, do hereby recognize and commend Equality Begins At Home, and extend best wishes to everyone attending the events.

Given, under my hand and the Great Seal of the State of New Jersey, this twelfth day of March in the year of Our Lord one thousand nine hundred and ninety-nine and of the Independence of the United States, the two hundred and twenty-third.

signed
Christine Todd Whitman
Governor

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The mission of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force is to build the political power of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community from the ground up. We do this by training activists, organizing broad-based campaigns to defeat anti-LGBT referenda and advance pro-LGBT legislation, and by building the organizational capacity of our movement. Our Policy Institute, the movementís premier think tank, provides research and policy analysis to support the struggle for complete equality and to counter right-wing lies. As part of a broader social justice movement, we work to create a nation that respects the diversity of human expression and identity and creates opportunity for all. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., we also have offices in New York City, Los Angeles, Miami, Minneapolis and Cambridge.