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New Jersey lawmakers voted Monday to give transgendered individuals special rights. If Gov. Jon Corzine signs the legislation, the state would be the 12th to grant such strong rights. According to gay-activist groups, New Jersey has 153 laws to protect homosexuals and transgendered people.The first section of the bill adds “gender identity or expression” to the existing hate-crimes law, which includes sexual orientation, race and religion. The bill also requires all new police officers to attend a mandatory, two-hour hate-crimes sensitivity training.“This particular piece of legislation is very strong because it includes ‘gender expression,’ which is not defined,” said Greg Quinlan of New Jersey Family First, the legislative arm of the New Jersey Family Policy Council. “What does ‘gender expression’ mean?”In December, a federal hate-crimes measure fell apart over the effort to protect "actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity."Caleb H. Price, research analyst for Focus on the Family, said the New Jersey legislation is not necessary."Not only is there no need for adding the category of 'gender identity or expression'," he said, "but this category is inherently ambiguous and unlimited-and is subject to an ever-morphing understanding of a person’s 'perceptions' about their biological gender."Quinlan said the bill puts families, particularly women and children, in danger.“What is the protection from these people going into a restroom where they identify themselves as a different gender, yet they’re using the facilities at the same time you are?” he said.“It’s exposing children-an unintended consequence of the law.”The legislation also creates a Commission on Bullying in Schools, which has nine months to investigate and make recommendations to the governor.“New Jersey already has anti-bullying laws in place,” Quinlan said, “but the bullying commission is set up to be totally sexually oriented.”The bill is on Corzine’s desk."The people of New Jersey have got to stand up,” Quinlan said. “It’s time to speak up.”TAKE ACTION
If you live in New Jersey, urge Gov. Corzine to veto this bill. You can find contact information through our Action Center.
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