Contacting Your New Jersey Legislator about Marriage Equality: A How-To

Here is a walk through of the process of calling your NJ State representative about marriage equality! Do it today, it takes less than a minute!

1) Visit http://www.votesmart.org and input your zip code. It's really helpful to put in your full 9 digit code (Zip+4) because some towns are split districts and you will get an accurate result.

2) Make note of your legislators. You will have a senator and two assembly members. Your senator is of particular importance. If you can only make one call, make it this person. (Note: If your representative is Dick Codey, Stephen Sweeney, or Paul Sarlo, it is IMPERATIVE you call. See below.)

3) Some other people you may want to be in contact with:
Senator Richard Codey
Senate President
973.731.6770

Senator Stephen Sweeney
Democratic Majority Leader
856.251.9801

Senator Paul Sarlo
Deputy Majority Leader
Judiciary Committee Chair
201.804.8118

**If you are told that you are not a constituent, you can say: “I’m calling your office because the Senator holds a leadership position that impacts the entire state."

4) Call your representative! Remember, you are their boss! The person who answers will be some type of receptionist or intern. Their job is to write down messages and give them to the representative. You may even get voice mail. That's perfect, just leave the message and they will get it. Make sure to leave a phone number in case they want to reach you with questions.

Here is an example of what you should say. It doesn't have to be exact, but should be along these lines. It's ok to read this:

Hi, my name is _____________ and I am one of Senator/Assembley(wo)man ___________________'s constituents in ______________ (your town) and I'd like to leave a message.

I'm calling today because I support marriage equality for same-sex couples in New Jersey, and I'd like to know why so many states are ahead of us in enacting legislation. Yesterday (April 29th), New Hampshire's legislature approved a marriage equality bill in their state. I think it's clear that the time is now for New Jersey to provide equal rights for same-sex couples. Please tell the Senator/Assembley(wo)man that I support same-sex marriage equality in New Jersey and he/she should too!

That's it!!

**When you call Dick Codey's office, change the last line to "Please tell Senator Codey that I support same-sex marriage equality in New Jersey and I am strongly urging him to introduce such legislation." We know Senator Codey is a supporter. But he is the one who has to introduce the bill to be voted on, so if he doesn't put out the bill, no one votes.

a) The person will say "OK thank you I'll tell them."
b) The person may ask you for a little more information like your phone number or address.
c) The person may tell you something else. For example, they may say "Assemblyman So-and-so supports marriage equality." Or they may say that they don't (see below). If you do get information along those lines, feel free to pass it on to Contact@GardenStateEquality.org. Include which legislative office you spoke with, what the office said, as well as your own name and hometown.

5) Some additional thoughts:

If you are a heterosexual supporter of same-sex marriage, it can be valuable to mention that as well. Some representatives are interested in hearing from straight supporters. I'm sure you can find an appropriate place to mention that above!

Please note that if you are in District 12, Senator Jen Beck's district, and you are a clergy member, be SURE to mention that! She is particularly interested in hearing from clergy on this, so it's very important that she knows you are a religious leader and that you support marriage equality! She is also a Republican, so let her know if you are too! It will be helpful for her to hear that members of her party are in favor of her voting for marriage equality!

You may encounter someone who tells you that the representative does not support marriage equality for same-sex couples. Do NOT engage in negative language. You can thank them anyway and hang up. Or you can tell them "Then I'd also like to remind Senator/Assembly(wo)man _________ that he/she works for the people in his/her district and I expect him/her to vote according to what his/her constituents support, not his/her own personal bias." Then report as above.

Congratulations! You just had a hand in your legislative process! Visit www.gardenstateequality.org for more info on how you can help!

Contacting Your New Jersey Legislator about Marriage Equality: A How-To

From Garden State Equality: Please call Senators Codey and Sarlo TODAY, Friday, April 3, 2009

Starting at 9:30 am TODAY, Friday, April 3, 2009 - this can't wait until after today - we ask each of you, no matter where in New Jersey you live, to call Senate President Dick Codey at (973) 731-6770 and Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Paul Sarlo at (201) 804-8118. It's got to be today and will only take moments of your time.

Here is your message:

"Has the Senator seen page 24 of today's Star-Ledger? The article reports that a country club tried to deny equal membership to a gay couple because they are not married and cannot marry in New Jersey. Tell the Senator to read page 24 and that I support marriage equality!"

Mention page 24 in your message. Senators Codey and Sarlo read the hard copy of the Ledger every day. Let's make sure they get to page 24. For your edification, here is the article:

The Star-Ledger, Friday, April 3, 2009
COUNTRY CLUB SNUB SPURS CALL FOR EQUALITY
Gay couple says marriage would have prevented misunderstanding
By Paul Brubaker

When Michael Norton responded to the Glen Ridge Country Club's advertisement for new members, all he wanted was a pool here he could keep cool this summer.

But when Norton asked if a membership would include his domestic partner -- the same way the club allows married members to include their spouses on their memberships -- a club administrator gave him the cold shoulder.

"It was unbelievable. I thought I was kicked in the stomach," Norton, 58, of Bloomfield said yesterday.

Barry Schrager, president of the country club's nine-member board, said Norton and his partner, Stewart D. Grossman, 62, were victims of an unfortunate misunderstanding that stemmed from the employee's error in stating the club's membership policy. The club abides by state law, which recognizes same-sex couples as civil unions and domestic partners, he said.

Grossman and his partner did not pursue a membership, but as the two men are preparing to file allegations with the N.J. Division of Civil Rights against the 115-year-old club, they say the problem is bigger than just one country club's gatekeeper. Their situation would have been avoided if state laws would allow them to say they are married.

"The equality is in the word," Grossman said. "If you tell people you're married, people know what that means."

Stephen Hyland, a Westwood family law attorney who has many gay and lesbian couples as clients, said the Glen Ridge Country Club incident could be attributed to the legal prohibition of the word "marriage" with regard to same-sex couples.

"If this couple had been able to marry, then there would not have been any need to explain anything further," Hyland said. "On the other hand, if you have to leave it up to an individual, then these things are going to pop up."

Norton e-mailed Amy Sikkerboll, the club's controller, on March 23 asking about membership fees for the club's house and pool, according to an e-mail exchange provided by the couple's attorney. He had read the club's advertisement in a community newspaper calling for new members.
Norton later sent a follow-up message asking if Grossman would be included in the membership.

Sikkerboll responded with an e-mail stating "Memberships include spouses but not significant others."

In a later message, Sikkerboll wrote, "This is a very old rule still in force that says couples must be married. There is ongoing discussion at the board level and hopefully it will be changed in the near future."

Sikkerboll did not immediately return a phone call seeking comment. Schrager, the club's board president, released a statement on Thursday saying the club's policy is to consider all applicants without reference to race, religion or gender. He added that the club recognized all couples sanctioned by state law, including domestic partnerships and civil unions.
"This has been and continues to be the policy of Glen Ridge Country Club," Schrager stated.

In a telephone interview, Schrager said that Sikkerboll's e-mailed statements about the club's policies were incorrect. "The truth is, this club is very different. It's a very welcoming environment. We welcome people of all backgrounds," Schrager said. "It's kind of ironic that this occurred."

David Wald, spokesman for the state Division of Civil Rights, said that authorities were aware of the situation. An investigation would not begin until a formal complaint was filed.

Steven Goldstein, chair of Garden State Equality, said Norton and Grossman's experience at the country club was not unique, and that the organization has received thousands of complaints of discrimination against domestic partners. "This case is Exhibit A of why we at Garden State Equality are calling for marriage equality," Goldstein said. "This should be a wake-up call to every one of the 120 state legislators. Wake up and smell the inequality that same-sex couples endure."

Schrager said the Glen Ridge Country Club changed its membership policy more than a decade ago to include women.

Asked if the club ever excluded groups other than women from membership Schrager said, "There is no institutional memory. As the laws have evolved, we've evolved."

From Garden State Equality: Please call Senators Codey and Sarlo TODAY, Friday, April 3, 2009

White House: House GOP Budget A "Joke"

"These Republicans still think you can get somethin for nothin."



Funny. Isn't that their argument against liberals and entitlement programs?
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

White House: House GOP Budget A "Joke"