1. MINUTES: Meeting of December 3, 1998 A meeting of the Task Force was held at 473 Plainfield Rd., Edison at 7:30PM. With the following members present:

Ed Martone, Exec. Dir., ACLU-NJ
Messrs. John C. Campbell and Richard J. Harrison, GayPASG
Joanie Parks and Linda McCulloch, Union Co. NOW
Ann Volz, Pride Center, New Brunswick
Messrs. George DeCarlo and Ryan Reyes
Elizabeth Volz, President, NOW-NJ
Donna Templeton, VP, NOW-NJ

The following were absent due to conflicting schedules:
Charlie Lanigan, GAAMC and GayPASG Coordinator
John Schoen, P-FLAG
Kevin L. Tisdol, Metropolitan Community Church (MCC)

2.  Introductions: Elizabeth Volz, the new President of NOW-NJ was welcomed. Elizabeth said that she would try to attend to the Task Force meetings and that if she could not make it, Donna Templeton would.represent NOW.

Joanie Parks and Linda McCulloch are from Union County NOW and we are trying to recruit them to work with the Task Force.

11/10: Lesbian and Gay Men of New Brunswick at the Pride Center. John C. and Rich attended. They gave a briefing on the Task Force which they felt was well received. Seven (7) cards received authorizing the use of their names in support of SSM and 35 cards received to mail to legislators. Some of the 16+ present had already participated in the post card effort.

11/15: ACLU-NJ 29^th Annual Awards Dinner: The recipients of the award were Bianca Jagger, International Human Rights Activists, James McCloskey, Founder Centurion Ministries, Freed nineteen innocent people from death row and life imprisonment, and Michael Keegan, jailed by the Military junta in Burma for distributing pro-democracy literature. All three were outstanding examples of true humanitarians and they demonstrate what one person can do to continue us on our journey to civility. It was especially alarming to be confronted with the number of people who have been sentenced to death and at the last minute found to be innocent!

Post cards and pens were provided at each table. People were informed to leave them if they would like for us to take mail them. Five (5) cards were left authorizing the use of their names in support of SSM and 36 to send to legislators.

Ed also stated he had mailed six (6) sets of post cards to the First Presbyterian Church in South Orange.

4. ITEMS TO REPORT ON AT NEXT MEETING:

1. ACLU to send post cards to "Metro West", a Jewish Group in West Orange.
2. P-FLAG in South Orange
3. Welcoming Committee in Montclair
4. Bishop Spong's office
5. St. George's' in Maplewood
6. Street Fair, New Brunswick Dec. 5^th.
7. Church of Redeemer is having discussion on Dec. 13^th
8. NOW Board Meeting Dec. 5^th.

There was a discussion on current status of action in these three states. We lost in Hawaii and Alaska by a 2 - 1 ratio.
Vermont's Supreme Court heard arguments on their SSM lawsuit on Nov. 18^th. We will have to wait for the court's opinion but Vermont is among the most liberal states, with civil rights for gays and lesbians, offering DP Benefits to its worker - as do some cities and towns. It has a hate crime law and allows lesbians and gays to adopt children. Couples can be legal parents of the same child but they can not marry!
These losses are another reminder of the work we have before us in convincing the majority of voters we should have the Freedom to Marry!

6. NOW-NJ SUPPORT FOR THE TASK FORCE:

NOW is one of the organizers of the SSM TF and has continued their efforts in support of SSM. We had a discussion about NOW becoming more involved and having representation at meetings with sharing of the efforts being made. Donna reported that at the NOW State Convention the Lesbian Task Force decided to create a new button with "Ask and I'll Tell" as a means of stimulating conversation on lesbian/gay issues which allows one to discuss basic rights including the Freedom to Marry. The continuing need for Consciousness raising among NOW members was also mentioned.

Ed reported that the Domestic Partner bill was about ready to present to the community.

Rutgers University announced that it would extend health benefits to gay and lesbian partners of its employees in an effort to settle a discrimination suit brought by five faculty members.

9. Jim Hohman's e-mail re Marriage and Anniversary Announcement:

Jim's correspondence re recognizing Gay and Lesbian couples was distributed and we will discuss the issue at our next meeting.

10. The Next Meeting of the Task Force for Same-Sex Marriage

will be 7:30PM, January 28^th, 1999 at 473 Plainfield Road, Edison. 732 744-1370

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