URGENT: The New Jersey Senate is deferring tomorrow (Thursday's) vote on the marriage equality bill at the request of bill sponsors Senators Loretta Weinberg and Raymond Lesniak.

Garden State Equality SUPPORTS this development. Press contact: Steven Goldstein, cell (917) 449-8918

MEMBERS: As planned, we are still meeting in Trenton tomorrow at 9:30 am for what will now be a lobby day. Please join us. Again, that's tomorrow, Thursday, December 10th at 9:30 am at our Trenton office, 110 West State Street. Please forward this email to all your friends, list servs and Facebook groups.

Senators Weinberg and Lesniak want to give the Assembly a chance to weigh in, beginning with an Assembly hearing. Senators Weinberg and Lesniak also believe, correctly so, that the more than 150 people who wanted to testify at this past Monday's Senate Judiciary Committee hearing, but could not because the hearing ran eight hours long, should have a chance to testify before the legislature.

Below is the statement from the prime sponsor of the marriage equality bill, Senator Loretta Weinberg.

This afternoon, Senator Ray Lesniak and I requested that Senate President Richard J. Codey hold Senate Bill 1967. We also requested that Speaker Joseph Roberts schedule a meeting for the Assembly Judiciary Committee on A2978, popularly known as the Freedom of Religion and Equality in Civil Marriage Act.

In light of the Senate Judiciary Committee’s historic passage of S1967, Senator Lesniak and I believe that the public needs another opportunity to engage legislators on this issue. Moreover, the Senate committee has substantially amended its version to include sweeping, additional protections for religious institutions. We believe that members of the public need to be afforded an additional opportunity to debate this new provision as well.

Tuesday’s Senate hearing was extraordinary. Hundreds of citizens lined up outside the committee chambers to offer testimony on behalf of, and in opposition to, the proposed legislation. Under the leadership of Chairman Sarlo, who conducted one of the most thoughtful and fair-minded hearings in which either of us has ever participated, the committee spent seven hours hearing from scores of New Jerseyans. We had to turn away another 150 witnesses for want of time. In addition to the committee hearing, thousands of citizens, and dozens of religious and secular organizations, have engaged our members in a thoughtful and productive dialogue on marriage equality.

Accordingly, as sponsors of S1967, we asked Senator Codey to postpone full Senate consideration of the Marriage Equality Act until the Assembly Speaker has an opportunity to review scheduling the Assembly Judiciary Committee for a hearing.

We thank Senator Codey for his leadership. Marriage equality is a difficult and challenging question for members from both sides of the aisle. Throughout this debate, he has been balanced and evenhanded in his treatment of all Senators. For this, he has our deepest gratitude. #

If ever there was just one day in your life to take off from work
to be part of history, this Monday, December 7th is that day.


URGENT, MASSIVE NEWS:
THIS MONDAY IN TRENTON,
THE SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE
HOLDS A HEARING AND VOTES ON
THE MARRIAGE EQUALITY BILL.
PLEASE DO EVERYTHING TO BE THERE.
JOIN US AT MONDAY 9:00 AM
AT THE TRENTON MARRIOTT.

THE HEARING IS 1:00 PM THIS MONDAY, DECEMBER 7th
AT THE STATE HOUSE IN TRENTON.

WE ALL NEED TO BE THERE VERY EARLY TO GET SEATS.



GARDEN STATE EQUALITY ASKS YOU
TO MEET US MONDAY 9:00 AM
AT THE TRENTON MARRIOTT
ONE WEST LAFAYETTE STREET
FOR FREE BREAKFAST AND A KEY BRIEFING,
AFTER WHICH WE WILL GO TO THE HEARING.
PARK AT THE MARRIOTT GARAGE.


We need the most massive crowd ever.
Right this moment, please forward this email to
every supportive friend and colleague you have
and to every blog and list serv of which you are a member.
Questions? Steven Goldstein is at cell (917) 449-8918.
Thank you, the world's greatest activists,
for getting us this far.

We voted for the final position on E-Team. The E-team for the 2010 year will be:
President: Elizabeth
Vice President: Ian
Treasurer: Heather
Secretary: Mike
Publicity: Nick
Health: Melissa
Activism: Taye
Advocacy: Greg
Haven: Joey
QAM: Pam

REPORT: NEW JERSEY TIED FOR #1

IN AMERICA FOR LGBT CIVIL RIGHTS



New Jersey ranks number one because our millions of progressive citizens

expect nothing less than full equality for everyone.

Our state is ready for marriage equality now.



Join Garden State Equality and other progressive organizations at

our statewide lobby day in Trenton this Thursday, December 3rd beginning

at 8:00 am at Garden State Equality's office across from the State House,

110 West State Street, Trenton. No RSVP needed. Free breakfast and free lunch.





Contact: Steven Goldstein, Garden State Equality Chair, cell (917) 449-8918

A report by the national LGBT organization eQualityGiving.org ranks New Jersey as number one in the United States, tied with three other states, for LGBT civil rights. The States of Equality Scorecard by eQualityGiving, online at www.equalitygiving.org/States-of-Equality-and-Gay-Rights-Scorecard, ranks America's top four states as New Jersey, California, Iowa and Vermont.

The four states received a 5.5 score on a 6 point scale. No state received a 6.

"New Jersey ranks number one because our millions of progressive citizens expect nothing less than full equality for everyone," said Steven Goldstein, Chair of Garden State Equality. "Our state is ready for marriage equality now.

"The people of New Jersey have welcomed each advancement for LGBT civil rights with open arms rather than clenched fists. The only backlash our political leaders should fear is the backlash that would result by not enacting marriage equality. That backlash would be guaranteed."

Since Garden State Equality's founding in 2004, New Jersey has enacted an unprecedented 210 LGBT civil rights laws at the state, county and local levels. For the complete list of 210 laws, visit www.gardenstateequality.org/pdfs/210.pdf

Among the 210 laws:

Twelve expansions of the domestic partnership law from 2004 to 2006; a civil union law in 2006; a law expanding the Law Against Discrimination to include the transgender community in 2006; and in 2008, a statewide law that simultaneously overhauls the state’s anti-bullying law, expands the state’s hate crimes law to encompass the transgender community, and toughens up the entire hate crimes law to strengthen the fight against all bias-motivated violence.

Also in 2008, New Jersey became only the second state in the United States, after California, to mandate paid family leave to employees who need to provide care for their same-sex partners.

And in 2009, in conjunction with his speech at Garden State Equality’s annual Legends Dinner, Governor Corzine signed an executive order mandating that the state indicate gender on driver licenses in accordance with one’s own gender identity or expression, yet another milestone for transgender rights.

Dec 1 is World AIDS Day- spread the word and spread the love. One color unites us.

(RED)™ is a simple idea that transforms our collective power as shoppers into a financial force that helps those affected by HIV in Africa. To date, $140 million has been generated and 4 million people have been helped through Global Fund programs that (RED) supports. When you choose to buy products from (RED) partner companies up to 50% of the profit goes towards eliminating AIDS in Africa. Joinred.com.

December 1st is World AIDS Day. Let's unite to help fight AIDS in Africa. Please post this video and fact: It costs around 40 cents a day for the 2 pills that can help keep a person living with HIV in Africa alive. (RED) - ONE COLOR UNITES US.
http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=216205325335&ref=mf

Election Minutes November 18

Public Health: Melissa won!

Activism: vote suspended until a later time.

Advocacy: Greg won!

QAM: Pam won!

Haven: Joey won!

Announcements:
E-Team Elections are tonight! at 9:00pm in the PRISM Center, BSC Basement room 016.

Today's meeting was a fun board game day.

Announcements:
Lisa Caton: course on the bible and homosexuality: is anyone willing to share story or plan class. Tuesday Nov 24 10:00 contact caton@tcnj.edu

Cosi Fan Tutte: this weekend $5 in the black box.
Wind Ensemble and Concert Band concert $5 in the mayo concert hall. Thursday at 8.
Reefer Madness: next weekend.

Elections:

President: Elizabeth won.
Vice President: Ian won.
Treasurer: Heather won.
Secretary: Mike won.
Publicity: Nick won.

Nominations for E-Team:

Public Health: Melissa (seconded and accepted), Pam (seconded and accepted),
Activism: Taye (seconded and accepted), Sean Parsons (seconded and accepted), Joey (seconded and accepted), Rebecca (seconded and accepted),
Advocacy: Greg (seconded and accepted), Joey (seconded accepted), Melissa (seconded and accepted), Morgan (seconded and accepted), Rebecca (seconded and declined), Sean (seconded and awaiting acceptance)
QAM: Melissa (seconded and accepted), Pam (seconded and accepted), Morgan (seconded and accepted),
Haven: Greg (seconded and accepted), Melissa (seconded and accepted), Taye (seconded and awaiting acceptance), Joey (seconded and accepted),
But you can email in a nomination
Voting at 9pm at the election meeting on Nov 18.

If you are nominated, please send a speech by Sunday at 8pm so we can email them for absentee ballots

**Important Reminder: Next week are elections for E-Board and nominations for E-Team.**

This week's meeting was E-Board nominations.
To be eligible one must have served on the E-team. The exception to this is when no one from the E-Team runs for a particular position.
Below are those who will be running for E-Board next week (nominated, seconded, and accepted):

President: Elizabeth
Vice President: Ian
Treasurer: Heather
Secretary: Mike D, Christine, and Melissa
Publicity: Nick
*Reminder to prepare a speech and submit it to prism@tcnj.edu by Sunday at 8pm so it can be sent to the members.

PRISM would like to recognize those members who were nominated but were ineligible or/and declined:
Greg, Christine, and Morgan
*These people are still eligible to run for an E-Team position.

We then had an open forum discussion about our thoughts on Queer Awareness Month. Topics discussed included pros and cons, publicity, timing, nature of events, and its overall impact.
*If you would like to give input on this issue please reply to this e-mail with any comments suggestions, or questions.

Announcements:

"Coexist at TCNJ" t-shirts are being sold for $10 from ResEd. They come in purple, sky blue, and TNCJ colors. A portion of the money goes to the charity "One Simple Wish” Bring money to Wednesday's meeting.

Dallas, Texas: Creating Change Conference Feb 3-7. Held by National Gay and Lesbian Task Force.

Support Nick performing in the opera "Cosi Fan Tutte": November 13-15.

Co-sponsored events on campus:
-Monday: DHC is bringing a gay, deaf speaker who will share his story of growing up. Direct contact experience for people in ASL. Event is Monday (11/9 at 7:00pm in the Music Building)
Ushers (Morgan and Mike) must report at 6:15.
-Tuesday: True Colors LGBT Asian relationships. In Cromwell Main Lounge at 8:00 small discussion.
Megan and Rahul will be presenting.

Ice Breaker: linked buddies sitting and standing linked arms.

Announcements:
Tonight at 5 in THW lounge. Night of Halloween fun with beer goggles.
Monday at 7:30 in the rat. Tara Naomi is performing. Benefit concert.
Halloween party. Saturday 5:00pm then trick-or-treating after. Dress up! Have fun!
Interface student council: if you are interested. Next Wednesday at 2:00 in TW lounge.
Cosi Fan Tutti: Nick performing. Nov 13-15. in Black Box Theater.

AIDS awareness week.
We raised money at the talent show: $150.
Safe Sex Fest: tonight in Cromwell.
Living and Loving with AIDS panel: 3:30 in library auditorium on Friday.

HIV virus can be acquired: through fluid… transmission from fluid to fluid.
It dies in the air. That is why research is difficult, cause it dies.
Working on HIV vaccine in Thailand. Retrovirus. RNA that tells the cells to make more of it.

There is a gene called C40+something. Evolved in central Europe because it evolved to be resistant to things like “black Plague”. It is more difficult for them to get it.

The virus is a super bug and adapts. That is why the HIV vaccination may not work. It is like a fake ID essentially.

HIV kills T-Cells in immune system. They are the messengers that tell other things to kill sickness.
AIDS is when immune system is so compromised that you can get sick from anything.

Originally it was the gay syndrome cause they thought it only affected us. It was originally the rejection of the use of condoms.

Elections are soon.
Nominations for e-board (11/4)
Voting for e-board and nominating e-team (11/11)
Voting for e-team (11/18 at 9:00pm)

E- Board includes:
President: overall lead of organization. The face of the club on campus. Generally responsible. Oversees the entire E-Board and Haven and QAM
Vice president: run all logistics of events. Reserve rooms, gets chairs and tables, gets signatures. Oversees 2 chairs. Doesn’t actually plan events. In charge of forms.
Secretary: emails. Minutes. Oversees one chair. Oversee historian team.
Treasurer: oversees all monies. In charge of submitting base budgets and special apps. Oversee fundraising team to raise $200 a semester. In charge of vouchers.
Publicity: oversees a team. Facebook, flyers, table tents, chalk, banners, coming out doors. Maintain the website. Creates advertisement in a timely manner.

E-Team includes:
Public Health: focuses on mental health and diseases.
Activism: political both on and off campus (balanced between both) (gender blind housing at TCNJ vs. marriage equality) networking with college campuses
Advocacy: all about the love. Responsible for education (panels), making new members welcome, KidsBridge, welcome week, NCOD, NDOS (NEED TO BE ORGANIZED)
Haven: was an email based peer support. Expand to have in person peer support, if need be.
Possibly a Queer Awareness Month Chair: works directly with President to make sure QAM happens. Needs to make sure it is organized and creating a focus for the month. Has entire spring to plan for a month in the fall. in charge of 4 events for the month.

We plan on having a spiritual support person who talks to prism and makes sure they are still heard.

If you are not out: you can run for anything, (except president)

You need to be on team to go up to board. You need to be an active member to vote and run for a position on team. Active member is 3 meetings, events, or combination of both. To be president you need to be on the board at least once.
You need to be nominated, just raise your hand if you weren’t nominated.