What (Bill) Clinton should've done years ago

This year, I will work with Congress and our military to finally repeal the law
that denies gay Americans the right to serve the country they love because of
who they are.

-The President of the United States. 1/27/10

Now, how about all those massive warehouses on Cranbury Road?

Hamilton, West Windsor Malls go solar

Developers Diversified will purchase some of the solar electricity for common area use, and tenants of Developers Diversified will have the opportunity to purchase the electricity generated by the solar power systems.
“There were no upfront costs for the developer and they are collecting roof rent,” said Jamie Smith, vice president of sales for SunEdison. “The roofs were not doing anything. Now they are turning them into cash.”

PSE&G is also considering a solar farm in Trenton, and held a town hall meeting about it recently to address resiential concerns.

Our Fair State may have lost its progressive way on some things, but on renewable energy, we are moving forward. Go Solar!

Wyatt Cenac in Trenton

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart	Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c
Dreaded Bliss
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Yes, we are in the crowd shot, at 3:18. We saw Wyatt Cenac at a distance. This isn't his funniest work, but his point at the end is priceless.

Second Class citizens of Our Fair State

From Geoff Wertime's opinion column at CentralJersey.com, titled Witnessing NJ's Shameful Vote:

My senator, Jennifer Beck, R-12th, cast that last vote with a photo of me and my boyfriend, which I handed her mere hours beforehand, either staring her in the face or — and this is more likely — buried under a stack of papers somewhere on her desk. It’s a photograph of us at a wedding this summer, one of three friends’ ceremonies we attended in the space of a month. She cast that vote after telling me earlier in the day that women had to wait for the right to vote, and that same-sex couples will have to wait as well.

It’s hard not to feel like an outcast when all of your friends are enjoying a privilege that is denied you, especially when a legislative body reaffirms that denial.

I spent part of the day chasing Senator Beck down too, with my husband (I'm part of the class that was awarded a right to marry by the genetic lottery), an old friend and a new one. The senator was quite adept at dodging us but did spend several minutes (of what was clearly a very busy day) listening to our concerns. As she had clearly heard the concerns of many in the recent past.

Yet she voted against equal rights anyway. A shameful vote, indeed. For 20 of our senators, and several who wimped out and abstained.

There shouldn't be two classes of citizenship. We've already proved separate-but-equal is never equal, why are we still allowing it?

Voters in Our Fair State don't forget votes against equal rights for all. I hope the voters in our district remember the day when Senator Beck voted how her party told her to, not how her conscience should have.

Another typical day in Trenton

With today’s vote in the state Senate, the New Jersey legislature defaulted on its constitutional obligation to provide same-sex couples in New Jersey equal protection, as unanimously mandated by the New Jersey Supreme Court in 2006.

Garden State Equality has more here.

Why I am going to Trenton tomorrow

First they came for the communists, and I did not speak out— because I was not a communist.
Then they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out— because I was not a socialist.
Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out— because I was not a trade unionist.
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out— because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for me— and there was no one left to speak out for me.

-commonly attributed to Martin Niemoller

I will not keep quiet because I am straight and was allowed to marry.
I will not keep quiet while my friends and family are denied equality.
This isn't a "gay rights" issue; it's a civil rights issue.

I am going to Trenton tomorrow. I am going to add my voice to the multitudes who demand equality for everyone.

It's about damn time.

Senate vote TOMORROW on Marriage Equality

1. Call your State Senators and tell them to do what's right. (When following that link, click the "state" tab.) If you already know who your Senator is, go here for contact information.

2. Email your Senator. It can't hurt to do both.

3. If you possibly can go, go to Trenton. Garden State Equality has info here.

Now is the time for Our Fair State to step up and give everyone equal rights. Now is the time for us to show our support.

Start calling.

Happy New Year from CoNJL

I'm still here, just haven't had much to say lately. Happy New Year, everybody.