Commissioner’s Successes and Struggles
in Civil Rights
Fall 2004 Outreach, NJ Division on Civil Rights from the Web, December 17, 2004
John Crowell Campbell never believed he would be appointed to serve on the New Jersey State Commission on Civil Rights, let alone be confirmed by the New Jersey State Senate.
In fact, Commissioner Campbell said that in January 2003 he intentionally crafted his application with references and personal history which left no doubt he was gay, an outspoken advocate for gay and lesbian rights, and someone who intended to challenge intolerance and discrimination wherever he encountered it.
“I submitted my name and thought that was the end of it,” said Campbell, who was appointed to a four-year term in May of 2003 by former Governor James E. McGreevey.
The co-founder and sponsor of Gay and Lesbian Political Action and Support has dedicated himself to civil and human rights causes since his retirement from the Veterans’ Administration in 1985.
As one of the newest members of the commission on Civil Rights, Campbell has been focusing much of his attention on working with public schools and encouraging the establishment of student “codes of conduct” that recognize diversity and promote inclusion of all students, regardless of race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or other areas protected under state law.
“I really had no intention of getting involved at this level,” said Campbell, who spent 31 years in public service.
“But I was impressed with Director Frank Vespa-Papaleo and the fact that he had attended several meetings of the New Jersey Human Relations Council, of which I was a member.
I became convinced Frank shared my feelings regarding the full implementation of the Law Against Discrimination (LAD).”
Campbell, who served on the Gay Community Task Force, was part of the effort to amend the LAD to ban discrimination based on sexual orientation.
In January 1992, then-Governor James Florio signed legislation amending the LAD.
However, to Campbell’s dismay, it took another eleven years and the enactment of still more legislation (NJ’s Anti-Bullying Law) to identify acts of biased-related harassment in public schools as a potential civil or criminal violation.
The anti-bullying legislation was passed by the State Legislature and signed into law by then Governor McGreevey in September 2002.
But the Edison resident, who served during the Korean War with the First Marine Air Wing as a Navy Hospital Corpsman, is nevertheless pleased that progress is being made on the civil rights front in New Jersey.
He also pledged to continue to lend his voice toward efforts to see that anti-discrimination laws are fully implemented.
“Being part of the Commission has been a learning experience for me,” said Campbell.
“I know there are times to be vocal, and times to listen. My colleagues know that I am not just interested in gay rights, but in building bridges to organizations that want to see basic human and civil rights advanced and protected.
I also like to tell people that as a white man, when you find out you’re gay, believe me, you learn what discrimination really is.”
www.NJCivilRights.org
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