domestic partner 
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Thu Jun 15, 2006 at 10:42:43 AM EDT
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Following the lead of over 100 other government entities in the state, Montclair will soon extend health and pension domestic partner benefits to municipal employees.The Township Council directed Township Manager Joseph Hartnett during its Tuesday night meeting to include this addition in the collective bargaining process with Montclair’s nine labor unions.
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“It’s long overdue, and frankly, I’m surprised we did not have this already,†Mayor Ed Remsen said. “We moved quickly. It had to be done.â€
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“I want to applaud them and am optimistic that this council will do the right thing and support this resolution,†Montclair resident Elizabeth Schroeder said before the vote was taken. “This is not a big financial burden. We are talking about human beings, not road fixtures.â€
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Tue May 23, 2006 at 01:49:24 PM EDT
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(Update: About 200 people showed up at the Cape May school board meeting tonight to show their support for Roberto - a massive crowd for the area. - promoted by jmelli)
Roberto Deane has been teaching elementary school in Cape May for 24 years, but because his partner is another man, the school district is denying his partner from receiving health benefits. If you're in the area, come out to support him tonight at the school board meeting at 8:00 pm at the Mitnick School, 905 Seashore Road, Cape May.
The domestic partnership law passed by the legislature a few years ago allows but does not require that government employees receive domestic partner benefits. Each county, municipality, school district, etc must decide whether to grant equal rights to their employees or to discriminate.
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Tue Apr 11, 2006 at 08:40:27 AM EDT
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The all-Republican Chatham Borough Council last night passed domestic partner benefits for the partners of municipal employees. This is a staunchly Republican town, yet the measure passed without controversy. Chatham Borough is in Morris County, which passed domestic partner benefits for county employees in late February. Steven Goldstein, chair of Garden State Equality notes: "It's yet another indication of the overwhelming bipartisan consensus in New Jersey to expand the civil rights of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex community."
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Mon Mar 13, 2006 at 05:51:57 PM EST
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Kathy Hogan, the openly gay Deputy Mayor of Haddon Township, led the effort in 2004 to grant pension benefits to domestic partners in Haddow Township. She recently introduced a resolution to grant health benefits to domestic partners of municipal employees. The problem is that the other two commissioners - Mayor William Park and Commissioner James Broderick - are opposed to the resolution.
They need to see that voters and township employees support extending benefits to domestic partners.
Residents of Haddon Twp and nearby Camden County communities (Haddon, Haddonfield, Collingswood, Cherry Hill, Pennsauken, Woodlynne, Oaklyn) are encouraged to attend the "Commissioner's Caucus" meeting at 7:00PM tomorrow at the Haddon Township Municipal Building, 135 Haddon Avenue in Westmont.
If you can't make it, you can call them and respectfully let them know you support the domestic partner resolution:
Haddon Twp Mayor William Park: 856-854-1176 Ext. 137
Commissioner James Broderick: 856-854-1176 Ext. 112
And send Kathy some love, too:
Kathleen Hogan: 856-854-1176 Ext. 156
Below is a letter Kathy wrote the mayor and commissioner responding to their concerns.
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Tue Feb 28, 2006 at 08:11:02 PM EST
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Nearly half of New Jersey's 21 counties now offer domestic partner benefits. Tonight, Morris County - the most populous traditionally Republican county in the state - became the 10th county to grant domestic partner benefits. Morris County will now offer both health and pension benefits to domestic partners of county employees. The other counties offering domestic partner benefits are Bergen, Hudson, Mercer, Union, Monmouth, Camden, Passaic, Ocean and Essex. The ten counties are in the top 12 of the most populous counties and together they constitute over 2/3rds (67.8%) of the state's population.
In an email to supporters, Steve Goldstein of Garden State Equality commented: Most impressively, the Morris County freeholders took this step with minimal pressure from the LGBTI community, truly doing the right thing on their own. Morris' action will no doubt accelerate the pace of the rest of New Jersey's 21 counties to do the same. We're seeing an unbelievable phenomenon in New Jersey now where counties in New Jersey, including Republican counties, are jumping all over each other to expand the rights of the LGBTI community. Congratulations to the Morris County freeholders for doing the right thing. Which county will be next?
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Tue Feb 14, 2006 at 07:45:30 PM EST
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Several state court systems are currently considering cases on whether or not to legalize same-sex marriages. In Washington state the Supreme Court heard arguments nearly a year ago and is expected to decide soon. But some are speculating that New Jersey may leap-frog those other states and become the second state to legalize same-sex marriages:Despite rejections at the trial and appellate court levels, lawyers and scholars say the New Jersey Supreme Court could cut ahead of similar suits pending in Washington, California, New York, Maryland, Connecticut and Iowa by swiftly legalizing gay marriage.
"New Jersey's court has a long and proud history of interpreting cases in favor of civil rights, and a victory in this case would be in keeping with that tradition," said Sally Goldfarb, a family law professor at Rutgers University Law School in Camden who studies family law issues. "The New Jersey Supreme Court has not hesitated to overturn state laws, and so these litigants are in a better position than they would be before most other courts across the country."
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Sat Feb 11, 2006 at 03:13:09 PM EST
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The Big Gay Picture had previously interviewed Laurel Hester and her friend Dane Wells who was so instrumental in helping convince the Ocean County freeholders to pass domestic partner benefits. They recently interviewed Laurel's partner - Stacie Andree:Stacie Andree is worried. The thirty year-old auto mechanic has certainly had more than her fair share of worries over the past eighteen months. Her domestic partner, Laurel Hester, is dying from terminal cancer. And after Stacie and Laurel tried to get domestic partner benefits from Laurel's employer--Ocean County, NJ--the two women found themselves embroiled in a protracted and controversial struggle with the five Republican freeholders who govern Ocean County. But none of that is what troubles Stacie just now.
She is worried that no one knows how grateful she is for all the support she and Laurel received during their long fight for equality--a fight that they finally won last month. Read the rest at the Big Gay Picture.
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Wed Feb 08, 2006 at 03:56:21 PM EST
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Four days ago, jmelli reported in these pages that Essex County may become the ninth New Jersey county to pass domestic partner benefits laws. Although it had appeared hopeful that such laws might pass in Atlantic County, passage of such a law is now doubtful. On January 25, jmelli reported that the freeholders of Atlantic County were being pressured by a right-wing hate group to reject domestic partner benefits. Now there is a report at pressofAtlanticCity.com that the proposed law has been split into two pieces.
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Sat Feb 04, 2006 at 04:53:12 PM EST
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Essex County may soon becomes the ninth county to pass domestic partner benefits:In a surprise policy directive during his annual State of the County address last night, Essex County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo Jr. proposed extending pension and health benefits to the domestic partners of county employees.
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DiVincenzo's proposal is not expected to face opposition in Essex, with several freeholders pledging their support for the resolution. Freeholder Vice President Patricia Sebold called it absolutely the correct thing to do. Inspired by Laurel Hester, Brick Township will likely become the second municipality in Ocean County to grant the benefits:“I don’t think anybody’s going to have a problem with it,†Township Council Vice President Stephen C. Acropolis said after Mayor Joseph C. Scarpelli proposed the resolution at the Jan. 24 council meeting. “It’s very good.â€
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“It appears the council will approve it,†Scarpelli said. “I think it’s going to make people’s lives better.â€
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The catalyst for this public policy change can be found in Point Pleasant resident Lt. Laurel Hester.
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Wed Jan 25, 2006 at 10:00:33 PM EST
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( - promoted by jmelli)
 "A gleeful yet heartbreaking afternoon" is how one attendee described the day.
As expected, the Ocean County freeholders today unanimously voted to grant pension benefits to Laurel Hester. The vote was 4-0, with freeholder Kelly absent.
Against the recommendations of her doctor, Laurel showed up with her partner Stacie to thank the freeholders. Due to her deteriorating health, she had to arrive in her wheelchair, with an oxygen tether, surgical gloves and mask.
When she arrived, the 80 supporters in the room greeted her with cheers. After the vote, Laurel thanked the freeholders and said that it "was democracy at its best."
Email the freeholders at CountyConnection@co.ocean.nj.us to thank them for doing the right thing.
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Wed Jan 25, 2006 at 09:26:49 AM EST
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Atlantic County freeholders last night voted 6-2 to table a proposal to grant domestic partner benefits to county employees. Speaking in opposition to the measure was a representative from the American Family Association - a radical hate group that opposes civil rights, free speech, and anyone who doesn't subscribe to their exact notion of Christianity. They are working furiously behind the scenes to prevent the passage of domestic partner bills in New Jersey. The AFA has called AIDS the "gay plague", has strong ties to holocaust revisionist Scott Liveley ("homosexuals are the true inventors of Nazism"), has linked Judaism to criminality, has accused Muslims of "tak[ing] over" cities, and has promoted confirmed hate groups (and the list goes on and on). Another resident casting stones was - Bob Murray of Cologne - who spoke in opposition saying “it's not the person, it's the sin.†Murray assured us that he will voluntarily return all government benefits he has ever received as soon as he commits his first sin.
Some of the freeholders said they "need legal advice and more time to review the proposal before casting a final vote." The two homophobes interviewed by the paper were hopeful because "the delay gives them time to bring more people out in opposition to the proposal." Contact Altantic County's freeholders today and let them know how you feel (Click the link to send them all an email). You can also call them at (609) 645-5900.
Be polite. They have not yet voted against the proposal - just tabled it.
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Tue Jan 24, 2006 at 12:07:39 PM EST
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Atlantic County Executive Dennis Levinson (R) has introduce a proposal to the board of chosen freeholders to grant domestic partner benefits to county employees. Although a county employee's request prompted him to make the recommendation, he also noted that he "couldn't help but be moved by the plight" of Laurel Hester. The freeholder board, which is dominated by Republicans, is expected to pass the resolution.
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Mon Jan 23, 2006 at 11:40:08 PM EST
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Yet another victory for civil rights can be attributed to Laurel Hester. Jackson Township Republican Committeeman Mark Seda was so moved by Laurel Hester's situation that he proposed a resolution to extend domestic partner benefits to municipal employees:From what I can see, I'm only one of millions who's been touched in a very big way by Lt. Hester's story. Her dignity and the incredible bravery she's displayed at the end of her life in wanting to change the world has inspired me to realize that as an elected official I should be standing by her side. The resolution passed unanimously tonight. His press release is below.
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Sun Jan 22, 2006 at 04:19:30 PM EST
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Laurel Hester thanked former colleague Dane Wells for his help: "I want to thank, from the bottom of my heart, the person most responsible for this, my first partner at the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office, Dane Wells." For months, Dane has been contacting state, national and international media outlets to bring visibility to Laurel's cause. He said that "tens of thousands of phone calls and e-mails from at least three continents were sent to the freeholders. Hundreds of thousands of people were outraged." His effort s paid off. Freeholder John Kelly who once claimed that domestic partner benefits threatened the sanctity of marriage, noted that "advocates for change have done a very good job of humanizing the issue." Republican State Senator Leonard T. Connors Jr. thinks that all counties will have domestic partner benefits: "A third of the counties have passed benefits, and I am sure they all will." The Asbury Park Press has an online poll asking whether or not the freeholders should grant Laurel her pension benefits.
Governor Corzine isn't ready to ban smoking in casino floors, citing economic reasons. Sharon asks: "Is it fair to treat casino workers as second-class citizens compared to other workers around Our Fair State?"
Some Republicans have doubts about Corzine's nominee for Attorney General, Zulima Farber.
Doug Forrester has sold his business, BeneCard.
The balmy weather we've had the past month will be gone soon.
This week's Carnival of New Jersey Bloggers is up!
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Sat Jan 21, 2006 at 10:00:26 AM EST
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(Welcome AMERICABlog readers! Click here to read more about Laurel Hester.)
"This is one of the happiest days of my life...I feel like David conquering Goliath," said Laurel Hester on Saturday morning.
After nearly a year of refusing to grant Lt Laurel Hester the right to pass her pension benefits on to her partner, Ocean County's freeholders will finally grant Hester her dying wish when they vote on Wednesday.
Steven Goldstein of Garden State Equality: "Truth be told, we did lose hope for a reversal in the last couple of weeks. We had applied all the pressure in the world, embarrassing the freeholders and few public servants had ever been embarrassed before in the state of New Jersey or in this country, and they would not budge. Finally they did. Hallelujah! There is a God....Now that the Ocean County freeholders have done the right thing, we thank them with all our hearts and welcome them to the New Jersey of the 21st Century, where compassion and common-sense prevails over hatred and outmoded homophobia."
The change of heart came after the freeholders had a political meeting with other Republican leaders in the county.
Freeholder James Lacey: "I think we're doing the right thing now. I feel comfortable."
But there's more:
In addition, state Sen. Andrew Ciesla, R-Ocean, has asked the state Office of Legislative Services to prepare a bill he will sponsor that will eliminate the difference in the pension inheritance rights of members of the police and fire retirement system and other state public employee retirement systems.
I want to thank the freeholders for deciding to do the right thing before Laurel dies. Today is a monumental victory for civil rights. Justice prevailed over bigotry, and a Laurel Hester can die in peace knowing she left the world better than she found it.
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Fri Jan 20, 2006 at 10:25:48 AM EST
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(Forgot to publish directly. Please recommend at Daily Kos http://www.dailykos.com/story/2006/1/20/102752/337 - promoted by Xpatriated Texan)
Most of us that work participate in some type of benefits program. Generally, that includes retirement benefits, health insurance, life insurance, and the like. But, whose benefits are they? Yours? Or the organization for which you work?
How about the American dream? To whom does it belong? Does the process of working hard to get ahead, enjoying the benefits of your efforts, and leaving your loved ones a bit better off, emotionally and financially, when you die belong to only one group of people? Does the government have the right or the power to cut some groups of people off from that dream?
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Thu Jan 19, 2006 at 04:09:50 PM EST
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When Garden State Equality Chair Steven Goldstein stood up to address Ocean County's freeholder's last night, he sarcastically thanked them for doing so much to advance the gay rights movement:"Not since police raided a bar called Stonewall in Greenwich Village in the 1960s have any five people advanced the cause of gay rights as much as you have." As one speaker last night noted, Ocean County has become the "poster child for the homophobia in New Jersey." Disgusted by their heartless inaction and wanting to avoid a similar fate, other counties have since acted to pass domestic partner benefits to county employees. They include Bergen, Hudson, Mercer, and Union. Recently, Monmouth County - a Republican controlled county neighboring Ocean, passed domestic partner benefits. Last night, while Ocean County's freeholders filibustered for hours, the Passaic County freeholders unanimously voted 7-0 to do likewise.
Tonight, Camden County will become the first county in South Jersey - and the seventh in the state - to grant domestic partner benefits to government employees. According to Steven Goldtein, "This demonstrates the unified disgust of all New Jersey -- North, Central and South -- with the grotesque hatred the Ocean County Freeholders have for Lieutenant Laurel Hester."
(And if there's any doubt that Ocean County has become the poster child of homophobia, take a look at all the press they've generated just today: NY Times, Star Ledger, Asbury Park Press, Press of Atlantic City, Advocate, 365Gay.com)
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Thu Jan 12, 2006 at 05:45:50 PM EST
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This just in:
At next week's Passaic County Freeholders Meeting, Passaic County's all-democratic freeholder board will vote on a resolution to extend both health and pension benefits to its county employees.
The measure is expected to pass, making Passaic County the 6th in New Jersey to extend benefits to domestic partners of county workers.
(Take that Ocean County!)
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Tue Jan 03, 2006 at 06:15:33 PM EST
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Great letter to the editor supporting Laurel Hester, who is trying to get pension benefits for her partner. Below are some excerpts, but go read the whole thing.
Since we pay our police good salaries and provide them with medical and pension plans, this garbage about Lt. Laurel Hester of the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office not being able to pass her pension on to her registered domestic partner because she is gay is pure bull.
She did the same job as the heterosexuals did, took the same risks, and deserves the same benefits.
Hearing the freeholders talk about contracts and rules makes me sick.
I've lived in this state for 45 years, and I've seen politicians caught cheating on their taxes, police fixing tickets and doing racial profiling, judges doing drugs in public buildings and a whole slew of other crimes that should have sent them to jail, but instead they were allowed to retire on the public dime.
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But now that it's a gay person they would have to bend the rules for, suddenly they have a conscience, morals and a desire to follow the law to its fullest extent.
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Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 09:52:42 AM EST
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On Friday, the Ocean County Observer reported on the possible costs associated with approving pension benefits for domestic partners in Ocean County. Lt Laurel Hester, a 24 year veteran of the prosecutor's office, is dying of lung cancer and has asked the freeholders to let her pass her pension benefits to her partner, who otherwise will not be able to keep their home.
Their excuses have ranged from immoral smoke screens about the "sanctity of marriage" to vague complaints about costs to taxpayers. Six months after Laurel Hester made her request, they've finally decided to actually work out some numbers and guessed that it could cost between $114,000 and $220,000 to fund pension benefits for domestic partners - or 23 to 45 cents per resident in Ocean County. Freeholder Kelly calls these added pension benefits a "tremendous cost."
Kelly, who fears that his marriage would be ruined by granting Hester the same pension benefits that he's double-dipping into, tried to take credit for the help that Laurel is getting (from The Big Gay Picture): Freeholder Kelly pointed out what the county has so generously done for Ms. Hester. Her salary continues to be paid in full as other employees have donated sick leave since Ms. Hester has used up hers fighting cancer. Note that this is not something extra done at the behest of the freeholders. It is what would be granted to any employee. It's nice that Freeholder Kelly tries to take credit for it though.
The freeholder also notes that the county provides life insurance for Ms. Hester and that along with the money Ms. Hester put into the pension system herself, she will be able to leave $450,000 to her partner. But wait--there's a catch. To get the life inusrance, Ms. Hester must die within the next nineteen days. After that her sick time runs out and she will have to retire. You see, the life insurance benefit only applies to active employees. Odd that Freeholder Kelly failed to mention that. Kelly comforts himself by adding that his "personal prayers have been for the lieutenant." He can pray all he wants, but his actions tell us everything we need to know about his values. While his wife will benefit from taxpayer-funded pension plans, he washes his hands clean of another couples' misfortune by citing a possible added tax burden of 45 cents.
To solve this dilema, I would like to offer to pay for Mr. Kelly's 45 cents, as well as the 45 cents of the other freeholders (I doubt anyone else in the county would complain about 45 cents). Although I am putting my financial health and the future of my marriage at great risk, a check for $2.25 will be in the mail soon. Don't spend it all at once, guys.
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