New Jersey’s LAD

First in the Nation

Celebrates 60^th Anniversary

On April 16^th, 1945, Governor Walter E. Edge {R} signed a bill enacting the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination (LAD) and creating the Division Against Discrimination (now known as the Division on Civil Rights).  This law was the nation’s very first state civil rights statue.

     In January 1992, Governor Jim Florio signed an amendment to the LAD that included “Affectional or Sexual Orientation.”  The law clearly states that the following are covered under Public Accommodations:  “…public library, kindergarten, primary and secondary school, high school, academy, college and university, or any educational institution under the supervision of the regents of the state of New Jersey”.

     The amendment to the LAD was not implemented and new legislation was passed that requires school districts to adopt harassment and bullying prevention policies to prevent violence in the schools.  The bill was signed by Governor Jim McGreevey in September 2002.

     The above legislation still has not been implemented in our schools and we call on our Legislators, and the community at large, to see that it is fully implemented and monitored. The Division on Civil Rights should be fully supported to see that the provisions of the LAD provide the intended protection and the Acting Governor, Attorney General, and Commissioner, Department of Education should  meet their responsibility in seeing that schools are safe places for all students and teachers.

GayPASG was co-founded and is sponsored by Messrs. Richard J. Harrison and John Crowell Campbell

of Edison, New Jersey.  Mr. Campbell is a Commissioner on the NJ Civil Right Commission.

Gay & Lesbian Political Action and Support Group Working for Liberty & Justice For ALL 473 Plainfield Road, Edison, NJ 08820 GayPASG@optonline.net    www.gaypasg.org 732 744-1370,  FAX 732 744-1368

Click here for pictures of this event.