New Jersey's Failed Marriage Equality Vote

The first order of business, the posting of the yays, the nays, those abstaining and those absent. 

YES (14)

Sen. Jim Whelan (D-Atlantic) (609) 383-1388
Sen. Bob Smith (D-Middlesex) (732) 752-0770
Sen. Barbara Buono (D-Middlesex) (732) 205-1372
Sen. Raymond J. Lesniak (D-Union), co-sponsor (908) 624-0880
Senate President Richard Codey (D-Essex) (973) 731-6770
Sen. Teresa M. Ruiz (D-Essex) (973) 484-1000
Sen. Sandra B. Cunningham (D-Hudson) (201) 451-5100
Sen. Brian P. Stack (D-Hudson) (201) 861-5091 & (201) 558-7926
Sen. Nia H. Gill (D-Essex) (973) 509-0388
Sen. Loretta Weinberg (D-Bergen), co-sponsor (201) 928-0100
Sen. Robert M. Gordon (D-Bergen) (201) 703-9779
Sen. Nicholas P. Scutari (D-Union) (908) 587-0404
Sen. Joseph F.Vitale (D-Middlesex) (732) 855-7441
Sen. Bill Baroni (R-Mercer) (609) 631-9988

NO (20)

Sen. Jeff Van Drew (D-Cape May) (609) 465-0700 & (856) 765-0891 & (856) 696-7109 &               (609) 926-3779
Sen. Ronald L. Rice (D- Essex)  (973) 371-5665
Sen. John A. Girgenti (D-Passaic (973) 427-1229
Sen. Nicholas Sacco (D-Hudson) (201) 295-0200
Sen. Fred H. Madden (D-Gloucester) (856) 232-6700 & (856) 401-3073
Sen. Shirley K. Turner (D-Mercer)  (609) 530-3277
Sen. Robert W. Singer (R-Ocean) (732) 901-0702
Sen. Joseph Pennacchio (R-Morris) (973) 227-4012
Sen. Christopher Bateman, (R-Somerset) (908) 526-3600
Sen. Tom Kean Jr. (R -Union) (908) 232-3673 & (908) 918-0414 & (908) 232-2073
Sen. Jennifer Beck (R-Monmouth ) (732) 933-1591
Sen. Joseph M. Kyrillos (R-Monmouth)  (732) 671-3206
Sen. Gerald Cardinale (R-Bergen)  (201) 567-2324
Sen. Michael Doherty (R-Hunterdon) (908) 835-0552
Sen. Kevin J. O’Toole (R-Essex) (973) 237-1360
Sen. Philip E. Haines (R-Burlington)   (609) 654-1498
Sen. Christopher J. Connors (R-Ocean) (609) 693-6700
Sen. Anthony R. Bucco (R-Morris) (973) 627-9700                                                                            Sen. Steven V. Oroho (R-Sussex) (973) 300-0200 & (973) 584-4670
Sen. Sean T. Kean (R-Monmouth) (732) 974-0400

ABSTENTIONS (3)

Sen. Paul A. Sarlo (D-Bergen) (201) 804-8118
Sen. Stephen M. Sweeney (D-Gloucester) (856) 251-9801 & (856) 455-1011 & (856) 339-0808
Sen. James Beach (D-Camden) (856) 489-3442

DID NOT ATTEND SESSION (2)

Sen. Diane B. Allen (R-Burlington) (609) 239-2800
Sen. Andrew Ciesla (R-Ocean) (732) 840-9028

First of all, I must thank David Badash for this list, posted at his blog The New Civil Rights Movement, to which I have added phone numbers.  David did a phenomenal job yesterday covering the marriage equality debate and has several posts up, including audio of individual Senators' speeches and excellent critiques of the.

Check out David's responses to Senator Kean, who represents the more LGBT citizens than any other Senator but voted no anyway, and Senator Cardinale who somehow argued against the bill from a procedural standpoint, stating that it "disenfranchised"NJ voters.  I'd suggest he look up disenfranchise.   He is an elected representative of his constituents and his vote on laws that affect them is in fact a direct extension of their vote.  But I digress.

Unlike New York, where every single Republican Senator voted against marriage equality, in New Jersey we can thank  Republican Senator Bill Baroni for his bravery in breaking the status quo of the GOP and delivering this excellent speech, asserting that “unequal treatment by government is always wrong.”


My parents are represented by Republican Senator Philip E. Haines of Burlington County, where I lived for a decade of my life.  Ironically, I have to call his office to ask for his assistance in understanding NJ health insurance law.  After that conversation, we'll be having one about marriage equality, and the fact that he will not get my parents' votes, nor the votes of anyone that I or my parents lobby. 

It's time, today, this very moment, to call NJ Senators who feel that we are not equal citizens and let them know it's time to get on the equality train, or be ready to clean out their offices.

Elders in the Tribe - Essentials Traits & Responsibilities

This is a continuation in my blog series about tribes as youth, adults, elders and ancestors.

The essential traits of elders in the tribe are:

• Before transitioning to elder status in the tribe, they were adults who were community leaders and cornerstones, and who actively participated in helping youth in the tribe transition to adulthood.
• They care deeply about the whole community, and provide vision and guidance to the youth and adults.
• They are wise and patient and can apply and/or communicate their wisdom and experience effectively.
• Their guidance is based on supporting the long term growth, nurturing and protection of the tribe for the next seven generations.
  

The essential responsibilities of the elder to the tribe are:

• The elders take care of the tribe, but in a less immediate and material sense than adults.  While adults of the tribe generate capital and take care of societal functions from farming to civic leadership, elders take a longer, seven generation view of the needs of the tribe and advise the adults based on this vision.
• Elders mentor and transition adults who are capable and willing into elder status.
• Elders maintain the tribes history and customs, and pass these on to the next generations.

The responsibilities of the tribe to the elders are:

• The elders are to be respected.  (This doesn't mean that everyone will agree with them all of the time - far from it.  Indeed, one of the responsibilities of the youth is to shake things up and have new ideas.)
• The youth and especially the adults of the tribe will help the elders transition to ancestors.  This responsibility involves some combination of physical, material and spiritual care before death, as well as honoring their memory after death.  The elder may continue to advise the tribe in writings and legacies left behind and, in the spiritual practices of some tribes, communication may continue to him/her/hir.  

NJ Marriage Equality Vote

As NYC blogger Joe Jervis writes, "At least, as in New York, we'll learn where to aim our efforts for the 2010 election."  I couldn't agree more.  A failure to pass marriage equality at the 11th hour of Governor Corzine's lame duck period would be a disappointment, we must prepare for that possibility now.  Maine and New York have demonstrated that there are just enough Democrats who are either spineless poll watchers or simply think that they are better than their queer constituents and can not be relied upon to pass marriage equality.  When I attended the NYC marriage equality rally only two days after the NY Senate voted down the rights of the people who helped to elect them, there were already speech makers throwing their hat in the ring for Senate races.  If marriage equality dies in the Senate at midnight on Thursday, organizing begins at 12:01, not eight in the morning on Friday.  In every city and state of this nation, we must make it clear that when our leaders fail us, they will be swiftly replaced.

Read the full story at Joe. My. God.