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NATIONAL GAY AND LESBIAN TASK FORCE
PRESS RELEASE

Contact:
Jubi Headley, Director of Communications
jheadley@ngltf.org; 202-332-6483 x3303

http://www.ngltf.org
1700 Kalorama Road NW, Washington, DC 20009
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NJ GOVERNOR SIGNS GLBT-INCLUSIVE SAFE SCHOOL LEGISLATION

July 3, 2002 - Today the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force (NGLTF)
applauded New Jersey Governor Jim McGreevey for signing into law a
bill requiring every school district in the state to adopt and
implement an anti-harassment and bullying policy, including harassment
based on sexual orientation and, after a strong push by state GLBT
activists, gender identity or expression. The bill, which also
requires the state's Department of Education to develop a model
policy, passed unanimously in both houses of the legislature--on
June 24, the New Jersey Senate voted 38-0 to approve the safe schools
measure, on the heels of the June 20 Assembly vote of 74-0.

"This legislation is a critical stride forward for gay, lesbian,
bisexual and transgender people," said Lorri L. Jean, executive
director of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force. "The unanimous
passage of a transgender inclusive bill through two state legislative
chambers is an overwhelming victory. That not one member voted against
this bill is a testament to the fact that trans-inclusive grassroots
organizing is an increasingly effective and successful strategy."

The New Jersey safe schools bill did not originally include gender
identity or expression, but a coalition of state activists worked
together to add this language to the bill while it was considered in
committee. Staff of the NGLTF Transgender Civil Rights Project helped
draft language for inclusion in the bill, and in addition testified
in support of the bill in New Jersey before both the Senate and
Assembly Education Committees, and also provided support to state
activists working to pass the bill.

New Jersey law already prohibits discrimination based on sexual
orientation in the education system. Recent New Jersey case law
indicates that its sex discrimination provision should be interpreted
to prohibit discrimination against transgender students as well.

Currently, two other states have either safe schools or educational
anti-discrimination legislation that includes explicit transgender
protection (CA and MN respectively). In all, seven states prohibit
discrimination in education based on sexual orientation (CA, CT, NJ,
MA, MN, VT, WI). In March 2002, the Washington State legislature
passed a law that prohibits harassment based on sexual orientation.

NGLTF has taken a national role in increasing the number of state,
local and federal laws that prohibit discrimination based on gender
expression and identity. Through its Transgender Civil Rights Project,
NGLTF works to increase the number of state, local and federal laws
that prohibit discrimination based on gender expression and identity,
to ensure that the entire range of gender non-conforming people are
covered by such legislation. NGLTF helps activists and organizations
to draft and pass legislation by evaluating and drafting clear and
effective legislative language and amendments, and by addressing
legal questions or concerns from legislators or councilpersons.
NGLTF also provides advice to activists on forming and maintaining
political coalitions and provides assistance with media and
organization.

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