Chris Christie and GLBT youth

by: kari

Thu Oct 07, 2010 at 09:59:30 AM EDT

Last week, Chris Christie said of the two college students who posted images of their roommate, Tyler Clementi, on the internet, shortly before Clementi's suicide, "I don't know how those two folks are going to sleep at night."  

Maybe this was a hate crime.  Maybe it was just the utterly thoughtless actions of two individuals who couldn't tell the difference between right and wrong.  But what is certain is that Christie, whose election almost certainly defeated the marriage equality bill in NJ, "felt in his gut that marriage should be between a man and a woman. He even tried to think of it differently, he said, and it just didn't fit."

It just didn't fit.  Well, something about Tyler Clementi "didn't fit" for Dharun Ravi and Michelle Wei, either, which is why they felt justified violating his privacy by posting a romantic encounter online.  Intolerance doesn't have to be wearing a white hood or frothing at the mouth.  Simple quiet statements of disgust, and the timidity of our elected leadership to stand up, not only for what "fits" but also for what is right, create the environment in which individuals like Ravi and Wei can ruin a young man's life just by trying to be "funny."  

New Jersey College Democrats' Response to the Failure of S.1967

by: NJCollegeDems

Fri Jan 08, 2010 at 02:52:10 PM EST

(TRENTON)- Jay Swanson, President of the New Jersey College Democrats, conveyed his deep disappointment in the New Jersey Legislature's failure to pass the Marriage Equality Bill. Over the past few weeks, Democratic leaders have been tossing the issue back and forth, pushing for the opposing house to take action first, but on Thursday it was voted on by the full Senate.

"Representing Democrats in colleges and universities across the state, I can say with profound certainty that the Legislature has let us down and has delayed equality for thousands of New Jersey's citizens," remarked Swanson. A marriage equality bill will have to wait at least another four years for consideration because Republican Governor-elect Chris Christie has vowed to veto any marriage equality bill that reaches his desk.

"I cannot give enough credit to Garden State Equality, which has worked and lobbied tirelessly on behalf of equal rights for gay couples," continued Swanson. "The fight is far from over and I sincerely hope that in the near future, we can live in a state and a country that treats all of its citizens as equals."

Several Democratic state senators either expressed their outward opposition to the measure, or were unwilling to publicly take a position prior to the vote. Support for the bill was equally shaky in the Assembly where Democrats hold a larger majority. "Those Democrats who voted 'nay' will be judged to have been on the wrong side of history," concluded Brian Block, President of the TCNJ College Democrats. "I can only find solace in the fact that the next generation of Democrats, which overwhelmingly support marriage equality, will not balk at the opportunity to confer civil rights on their fellow citizens."

Legislative Efforts to Engage High School Students Move Quietly Forward

by: Project Vote

Thu Mar 12, 2009 at 09:34:55 PM EDT

With an estimated 23 million 18-29 year old citizens turning out to vote in the 2008 presidential election, it is easy to assume that young people today have overcome the stereotypical image of "apathetic youth." Yet, while the last few election cycles show an ever-growing interest in political engagement, young people are still underrepresented in the U.S. electorate-a problem that seems to have more to do with lack of access than lack of interest.  

On Neil Cohen's replacement

by: Scott Weingart

Sat Jul 26, 2008 at 10:46:36 PM EDT

It's more than likely that disgraced Assemblyman Neil Cohen will resign his spot as an Obama Delegate. His resignation will require that one of the six Obama Alternates will be promoted to delegate as a result. This selection will provide the state committee with an excellent opportunity to add some diversity to the delegation.

Based on exit polls, 13% of the Democratic primary electorate fell between the ages of 18 and 29. Yet the New Jersey Democratic Committee's delegate selection plan set a goal of just 12 of 145 delegates between 18 and 35, which is just over 8%. Youth are represented at higher levels in Pennsylvania and Florida, two states with larger elderly populations.

While the deadline for officially griping about the plan has long since past, Cohen's presumed resignation will give the Democratic State Committee a chance to make the state's Democratic delegation look more like its Democratic primary electorate. Let's hope they take it.