Text of NJ AR 194 (2023)

ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION No. 194 STATE OF NEW JERSEY 220th LEGISLATURE INTRODUCED JUNE 28, 2022 Sponsored by: Assemblywoman BRITNEE N. TIMBERLAKE District 34 (Essex and Passaic) Assemblywoman PAMELA R. LAMPITT District 6 (Burlington and Camden) Assemblywoman LISA SWAIN District 38 (Bergen and Passaic) SYNOPSIS Designates June 2023 as LGBTQIA+ Pride Month in New Jersey. CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT As introduced. An Assembly Resolution designating June 2023 as LGBTQIA+ Pride Month in New Jersey. Whereas, New Jersey is committed to embracing the value and dignity of each person who resides in this State, regardless of age, race, ethnicity, religion, sex, gender identity, gender expression, or sexual orientation; and Whereas, Individuals who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning, intersex, asexual, non-binary, and pansexual (LGBTQIA+) have made, and continue to make, valuable contributions to every aspect of life in New Jersey, including in academics, architecture, art, business, culture, economic development, education, fashion, film, government, health, law, music, politics, research, science, sports, and technology; and Whereas, LGBTQIA+ individuals have historically been persecuted by discriminatory laws and policies that denied LGBTQIA+ individuals access to rights, programs, benefits, and services otherwise guaranteed to the general population and that criminalized the actions, relationships, and even the existence of LGBTQIA+ individuals; and Whereas, As a result, until recently, it was standard for most LGBTQIA+ individuals to hide their sexual orientation, gender identity, or both, out of fear of adverse consequences that could include loss of employment, loss of friendships and family relationships, exclusion from social clubs and networks, barriers to professional advancement, harassment by law enforcement, criminal prosecution, and physical violence; and Whereas, Medical and psychiatric research has shown that LGBTQIA+ individuals, and particularly LGBTQIA+ youth and LGBTQIA+ individuals who are from a racial or ethnic minority, experience anxiety, depression, suicide, substance use disorders, and homelessness at a significantly higher rate than does the general population; and Whereas, LGBTQIA+ individuals additionally experience disparities in access to both physical and behavioral health care resulting from both conscious and unconscious bias, as well as a lack of understanding of the health issues that may be unique to an LGBTQIA+ person; and Whereas, It is commonly accepted that the protests that occurred outside the Stonewall Inn in New York City on June 28, 1969 following a police raid represented the turning point in the movement for LGBTQIA+ civil rights; and Whereas, In the succeeding decades, generations of LGBTQIA+ individuals have worked tirelessly to achieve lasting gains in LGBTQIA+ equality at the local, state, and federal levels, including gaining the right to marriage equality, establishing laws guaranteeing equality in housing and employment, securing equality in access to education and health care, winning the right to serve openly in the Armed Forces, and pushing for other gains in equality at all levels of society; and Whereas, The Human Rights Campaign issued a National State of Emergency on June 6, 2023, citing an unprecedented and dangerous spike in anti-LBGTQIA+ legislative actions across the United States; and Whereas, There has been an uptick in unconstitutional restrictions on expressive rights meant to disproportionately harm the LGBTQIA+ community; and Whereas, Across the United States, during this legislative session, there have been over 525 state bills introduced that attack the LGBTQIA+ community, marking a regression in LGBTQIA+ rights and equality; and Whereas, Nationwide, more than 75 anti-LGBTQIA+ bills have been signed into law in 2023 alone; and Whereas, New Jersey will continue to be committed to the equality, dignity, and safety of the LGBTQIA+ community despite this shameful national trend; and Whereas, June has long been celebrated in many places worldwide as LGBTQIA+ Pride Month, in recognition of both the gains in LGBTQIA+ equality that have been realized since June 1969, as well as in recognition of the ongoing struggle to advance civil, societal, and human rights for the LGBTQIA+ community; and Whereas, Moreover, LGBTQIA+ Pride Month is a celebration of visibility in the wake of historic marginalization, as well as a celebration of authenticity, acceptance, inclusion, and love; and Whereas, It is therefore appropriate to designate June 2023 as LGBTQIA+ Pride Month in New Jersey, in recognition of the achievements, contributions, struggles, and essential humanity of LGBTQIA+ individuals; now, therefore, Be It Resolved by the General Assembly of the State of New Jersey: 1. June 2023 is designated as LGBTQIA+ Pride Month in New Jersey. Public officials and the citizens of this State are respectfully urged to commemorate LGBTQIA+ Pride Month. STATEMENT This Assembly resolution designates June 2023 as LGBTQIA+ Pride Month in New Jersey, in recognition of the achievements, contributions, struggles, and essential humanity of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning, intersex, asexual, non-binary, and pansexual (LGBTQIA+) individuals. The public officials and citizens of New Jersey are respectfully urged to commemorate LGBTQIA+ Pride Month 2023.