WASHINGTON – Following the passing of longtime LGBT ally Senator Frank Lautenberg, Human Rights Campaign (HRC) president Chad Griffin has called on New Jersey Governor Chris Christie to appoint a successor who shares Lautenberg’s commitment to equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) equality.  In a letter to the governor today, Griffin stated:

“From basic workplace protections to tackling bullying in our schools to the equal recognition of all marriages, legislation supportive of basic constitutional fairness will assume a central role in the legislative agenda of the coming months. Please do right by the hundreds of thousands of LGBT New Jerseyans—and the broad majority of the state that supports their equality—and appoint an interim Senator who brings New Jersey’s values and Senator Lautenberg’s legacy of equality and basic fairness back to halls of Congress.”

For well over a decade, Senator Lautenberg received a 100% rating on the HRC Scorecard, which scores members of congress on their positions on LGBT-related legislation.  Following the tragic death of Rutgers University student Tyler Clementi, Sen. Lautenberg introduced the Tyler Clementi Higher Education Anti-Harassment Act to help combat harassment and cyberbullying on college campuses.

In February 2012, the New Jersey state legislature passed marriage equality legislation.  This legislation was later vetoed by Gov. Christie.  A clear and decisive majority of New Jerseyans support equality for LGBT people, including marriage equality.  A recent poll found that 62 percent of Garden State voters support marriage for gay and lesbian couples, and this broad support extends to other issues as well. 

Read the full letter online here: www.hrc.org{assets_Array:https://assets2.hrc.org/files/assets/resources/GovChristieLetter_06042013.pdf

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The Human Rights Campaign is America’s largest civil rights organization working to achieve lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equality. By inspiring and engaging all Americans, HRC strives to end discrimination against LGBT citizens and realize a nation that achieves fundamental fairness and equality for all.

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