The New Jersey LGBTQ+ Democratic Caucus released the following statement:

“We are encouraged by the recent LGBTQ+ advancements in New Jersey that have occurred this week. Two major victories include the approval of the new congressional redistricting map; and the passage of S3416 by both houses of the New Jersey Legislature, which codifies Marriage Equality into statute.

In August 2021, we began by urging political map-drawers to create districts that helped large LGBTQ populations gain representation. We wrote op-eds, collected data from business organizations and community groups. We then built a census with political thought leaders on how to cluster communities together to form LGBTQ-friendly congressional districts and presented testimony at the open redistricting hearings. As a result, we are thrilled to see Neptune City, Ocean Grove, and Red Bank, three LGBTQ-concentrated communities, included with Asbury Park in the 6th Congressional District. Congressman Frank Pallone has been a strong friend and ally to the LGBTQ+ community, and we know he will continue to fight for the community.

“We spent months educating allied organizations, elected officials, and redistricting authorities on why LGBTQ people are a legitimate “community of interest,” said Lauren Albrecht, Chair of New Jersey Democratic LGBTQ Caucus. “Moving largely LGBTQ+ populated communities together to form pro-equality regions is so critical as it ensures allocation of resources and smart policies to better protect our community and families whether it is funding for housing, healthcare, education, and so many other crucial issues.”

“Seizing on this once‐per‐decade opportunity to increase LGBTQ representation, we are ecstatic to see the progress that has taken place during these last few days,” stated Joe Forte, Vice-Chair. “New Jersey is leading the nation in LGBTQ+ equality.”

In addition to the redistricting map, legislative leaders voted to codify same-sex marriage into law this week. Both houses passed this legislation, Senate Bill 3416. However, we are dismayed but not surprised to see the following legislators have voted against affording us the basic dignity afforded to everyone else: Senator Steven Oroho, Senator Bob Singer, Senator Christopher Connors, Senator Michael Doherty, Assemblyman John Catalano, Assemblyman Ronald Dancer, Assemblyman Gerry Scharfenberger, outgoing Assemblywoman Serena Dimaso, Assemblyman Edward Thomson, Assemblyman Jay Webber, Assemblyman Erik Peterson, Assemblyman Parker Space, and Assemblyman Robert Auth. Should these Legislators need any information to clarify why LGBTQ people deserve the same rights as everyone else, we are always available to help in a teachable moment.

Despite the opinions of these legislators that the LGBTQ community does not deserve to have the right to marry whomever we love, we are fortunate that most of our Representatives understand that upwards of 6% of the population does deserve this protection. We are grateful to those Legislative members that sponsored this bill: Primary Sponsors Senators Sweeney, Weinberg, and Gopal and Assemblymembers Vainieri Huttle, Downey, Jasey, Quijano and Zwicker, and co-sponsors Senators Lagana, Ruiz, Singleton and Stack and Assemblymembers Calabrese, Chaparro, Danielson, Freiman, Johnson, Lampitt, McKeon, Mukherji, Murphy, Peters, Stanfield, and Swain.”

For more information regarding the NJ LGBTQ Democrats, please visit our website: http://www.njlgbtqdems.com/ and like us on social media: https://www.facebook.com/NJLGBTDems/