Good News, Bad News: New Jersey Edition

So, admittedly, New Jersey is not a state I spend a ton of time reading about, but today two bits of news worth knowing came across my radar. I'm left with mixed feelings about these goings-on in the Garden State.

Thumbs Up, NJ!

The NJ appeals court ruled yesterday that sexual harassment and discrimination laws apply to business owners and their clients, in a decision that expands application of the laws beyond just employer-employee relationships. A description of the case from NJ.com:

Eileen Tortorello, the owner of J.T.’s Tire Service Inc., in South Plainfield, filed suit against United Rentals North America Inc. and its Piscataway branch manager, Harold Hinkes, in January 2008, alleging Hinkes stopped buying tires from the firm after she refused his sexual advances.

United Rentals sought to have the lawsuit dismissed, arguing sexual harassment is prohibited only in a workplace environment. In addition, the company, while acknowledging that the facts in the case are true, said they did not rise to the level of sex discrimination.

This is big news, with the three-judge panel overturning a previous ruling in order to allow Tortorello to sue United Rentals North America, Inc. after one of the company's managers pulled his business after his sexual advances were rejected by Tortorello.

We'll be interested to see how the case develops, but for now, a thumbsup!

Now, for the bad news -

Thumbs Down, NJ!

After an hour and a half of heated public debate in the Senate chamber, the state Senate rejected a bill to permit same-sex marriage. Though New Jersey legalized civil unions in 2006, supporters of the marriage legislation argue that same-sex couples are still discriminated against in some ways, citing hospital visitation rights and pension benefits.

This is just another disappointing chapter in the ongoing battle for equal rights for the LGBTQ community. A definite thumbs down on this one.

Help Put Alice Paul into the New Jersey Hall of Fame!

Okay, for all you feminist history nerds out there (and those that are not, but that definitely should be!), this is your chance to honor one of the movement's greatest leaders, Alice Paul.

Paul, who spent her lifetime working for women's rights, securing suffrage and introducing the Equal Rights Amendment into Congress in 1923, has been nominated for induction into the New Jersey Hall of Fame in 2010.

One of several candidates in the history category this year, it is up to us to ensure that she continues to be remembered for her extraordinary amount of dedication to equal rights throughout the twentieth century. You need not be a resident of New Jersey in order to vote, but all votes must be in no later than November 20, 2009. To cast a vote for Alice Paul, visit the New Jersey Hall of Fame's website at http://www.njhalloffame.org/

Since next year (August 26, 2010) will be the 90th anniversary of the passage of the 19th Amendment, it's only right that Alice Paul should finally be honored by her own home state. Vote today!


Photo Credit: bobster855 on Flickr