Our speakers include:

OPENING REMARKS by
Rutgers–Newark Vice Chancellor Marcia Brown

Panel 1: LGBT COMMUNITIES OF COLOR IN NEWARK AND NEW JERSEY
Chas B. Brack, director, Dreams Deferred: The Sakia Gunn Documentary Project
Bryan Epps, executive director, Newark Pride Alliance
Perris Straughter, acting director, Newark-Essex Pride Coalition
Frank Vespa-Papaleo, senior counsel, New Jersey Department of the Public Advocate

Panel 2: LGBT COMMUNITIES OF COLOR WITHIN THE LARGER COMMUNITY – ISSUE ROUND-UP
Carlene Jadusingh, representative, Lesbian & Gay Law Association of Greater New York
Flor Bermudez, Youth in Out-of-Home Care Attorney, Lambda Legal
Kenyon Farrow, executive director, Queers for Economic Justice
Katherine Acey, executive director, Astraea Lesbian Foundation for Justice
Professor Carlos Ball, Rutgers School of Law–Newark, moderator

Dinner will promptly follow the program.

To RSVP: http://pegasus.rutgers.edu/~racelaw/symposium.html

Source: The Editorial Board of the Rutgers Race & the Law Review

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Newark, N.J., Feb. 19, 2010 –Prominent scholars, activists, and attorneys will discuss the effects of current laws and social policies on LGBT communities of color at the annual symposium of the Rutgers Race and the Law Review, to be held from 5 – 9 pm on Thursday, February, 25, 2010 at Rutgers School of Law–Newark. The title of the journal’s symposium is “An Affront on Civil Rights: A Multicultural Perspective on the LGBT Struggle for Equality.”

Admission is free and open to the public. RSVP required by February 20 to http://pegasus.rutgers.edu/~racelaw/symposiumrsvpform.html.

What: “An Affront on Civil Rights: A Multicultural Perspective on the LGBT Struggle for Equality,” sponsored by the Rutgers Race and the Law Review

Who: OPENING REMARKS Rutgers–Newark Chancellor Steven J. Diner

LGBT COMMUNITIES OF COLOR IN NEWARK AND NEW JERSEY
Chas B. Brack, Dir., Dreams Deferred: The Sakia Gunn Documentary Project
Bryan Epps, Exec. Dir., Newark Pride Alliance
Perris Straughter, Acting Dir., Newark-Essex Pride Coalition
J. Frank Vespa-Papaleo, Sr. Counsel to the State Public Advocate
Moderator: Suzanne Kim, Associate Professor of Law,
Rutgers School of Law- Newark

LGBT COMMUNITIES OF COLOR WITHIN THE LARGER GAY COMMUNITY – ISSUE ROUND-UP
Carlene Jadusingh, Rep., Lesbian & Gay Law Association of Greater New York
Flor Bermudez, Youth in Out-of-Home Care Attorney, Lambda Legal
Kenyon Farrow, Exec. Dir., Queers for Economic Justice
Katherine Acey, Exec. Dir.,  Astraea Lesbian Foundation for Justice
Moderator: Carlos Ball, Professor of Law and Judge Frederick Lacey Scholar,
Rutgers School of Law- Newark

When: 5 – 9 pm, Thursday, February 25, 2010, with dinner to follow

Where: Baker Trial Courtroom, Rutgers School of Law–Newark

On Thursday, November 5, 2009 the LGBTIQ Caucus of Rutgers School of Law—Newark hosted a FREE event titled “Coming Out and Speaking Up”. The mission of “Coming Out and Speaking Up” is to educate the City of Newark on the social and legal issues facing Newark’s Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender youth. The event also seeks to inform Newark’s LGBT Youth of their legal rights in school, the workplace and throughout the city, and to suggest steps to take when encountering violence or discrimination.

NEWARK, N.J., November 12, 2009 – “Coming Out and Speaking Up”, hosted by the LGBTIQ Caucus at Rutgers School of Law Newark, was a dynamic event attended by over 200 Newark residents. Several panels of residents, experts, and activists discussed the social and legal issues facing Newark’s Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender youth.

See Photos – http://tinyurl.com/yaasast

Andrew Todd Kunka is a law student at Rutgers in Newark and he is co-president of the on-campus based LGBTIQ Caucus.
Andrews says, “The event informed an audience of Newark LGBTIQ youth and adults about their legal rights in school, the workplace and throughout the city. We also provided steps to take when encountering violence or discrimination.

The event featured an open mic for youth, panel discussions and refreshments. For more information please contact, Andrew Kunka, event organizer and Co-President of the LGBTIQ Caucus at Rutgers School of Law, at akunka@pegasus.rutgers.edu

This event was planned and sponsored by the LGBTIQ Caucus of Rutgers School of Law—Newark, the City of Newark, Newark Pride Alliance, Newark-Essex Pride Coalition, Liberation in Truth Unity Fellowship Church, RU Pride, and Project Wow.

Source: LGBTIQ Caucus of Rutgers School of Law—Newark

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The event features a dinner and dessert buffet, open mic for youth, panel discussions and break out groups. For more information please contact, Andrew Kunka, event organizer and Co-President of the LGBTQ Caucus at Rutgers School of Law, at akunka@pegasus.rutgers.edu

This event is planned and sponsored by the LGBTQ Caucus of Rutgers School of Law—Newark, the City of Newark, Newark Pride Alliance, Newark-Essex Pride Coalition, Liberation in Truth Unity Fellowship Church, RU Pride, and Project Wow.

Event Details:

Thursday, November 5, 2009
6:30 PM – 9:00 PM

Rutgers School of Law, Newark
Center for Law and Justice
123 Washington Street
Newark, NJ 07102

Source: LGBTQ Caucus of Rutgers School of Law—Newark

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ComeUnity Wire is a service of FEMWORKS LLC. Issuers and not FEMWORKS LLC are solely responsible for the content, facts and accuracy of all information submitted by them for transmission or posting by ComeUnity Wire. FEMWORKS LLC does not warrant or make any representations concerning the content, accuracy, likely results or reliability of the use of the materials it transmits or posts.

ACLU-NJ and NOBLE Jointly Announce Successful Resolution of Sexual Orientation Dispute

“We are grateful that the matter is settled, but even more, we are grateful that this resolution promises to help other lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals,” stated Cheryl Rogers who, along with her partner Towana Christopher, claim that they and friends were not welcomed at a NOBLE sponsored fundraising dance held in April in Edison, NJ. “While no one should have to face discrimination, we are glad that our experience can lead to stronger ties and greater understanding between police officers and the LGBT community.”

While NOBLE did not concede that any act of discrimination occurred, the two groups resolved the dispute amicably, with each gaining a better understanding of the other’s views. NOBLE will extend outreach to the lesbian, gay, transgendered and bisexual (LGBT) community, and the complainants have agreed to not to pursue any legal action. Both parties expressed an interest to move forward with a strong commitment to equal rights.

“NOBLE understands the destructive power of discrimination, and we handle every complaint with the seriousness it deserves,” said Jessie Lee, Jr., NOBLE’s National Executive Director. “We welcome this resolution as a way to help better educate all New Jerseyans about their right to be free from discrimination.”

NOBLE, recognizing the pivotal role of law enforcement in building ties with the LGBT
community, has agreed to expand its outreach by appearing at events to educate the LGBT community about hate crimes laws and bias crimes. The organization will also post a statement on its website each June – to coincide with Pride Month – expressing its support for equal treatment from law enforcement regardless of anyone’s sexual orientation or gender expression.

“We are proud that this resolution creates an opportunity for police officers to build a bridge with the LGBT community,” stated ACLU-NJ Legal Director Ed Barocas, who represented the two women. “This resolution helps not only the women involved, but the rights of all members of the LGBT community.”

NOBLE, headquartered in Alexandria, Virginia, was founded in 1976 with a mission to ensure equity in the administration of justice in the provision of public service to all communities, and to serve as the conscience of law enforcement by being committed to justice by action.

The ACLU-NJ, based in Newark, implements legal, legislative and public education programs in conjunction with large numbers of volunteers to advance the ACLU’s goals of liberty and justice for all. For information about ACLU-NJ please visit http://www.aclu-nj.org .

Source: American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey

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