Sponsored by:
Senator LORETTA WEINBERG
District 37 (Bergen)
Senator RAYMOND J. LESNIAK
District 20 (Union)
Co-Sponsored by:
Senator Ruiz
SYNOPSIS
Designates November 14th through November 20th as "Transgender Awareness Week."
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
A Joint Resolution designating the week of November 14th through November 20th as "Transgender Awareness Week" in New Jersey.
Whereas, "Transgender Awareness Week," which runs from November 14th through November 20th, is a time for transgender persons and their allies to take action and bring attention to the community by educating the public and advancing advocacy around the issues of prejudice, discrimination, and violence that transgender persons face; and
Whereas, Individuals and organizations around the country annually participate in Transgender Awareness Week to help raise the visibility of transgender and gender non-conforming persons, and address the issues faced by these persons; and
Whereas, The term "transgender" is used to describe persons whose gender identity or gender expression differs from the sex they were assigned at birth, and transgender persons may or may not decide to alter their bodies hormonally or surgically; and
Whereas, During the awareness week, members of the public and organizations become informed about issues surrounding transgender persons and this awareness raises the distinct possibility that there will be a reduction in prejudice, discrimination, and violence toward transgender persons; and
Whereas, The final day of Transgender Awareness Week is November 20th and this day, which is known as "Transgender Day of Remembrance" and started as a vigil to honor the memory of a 34-year-old African-American woman who was the victim of an unsolved and brutal murder in Boston on November 28, 1998, is now an annual day of observance to honor the memory of all persons whose lives were tragically lost in acts of anti-transgender violence; and
Whereas, The designation of Transgender Awareness Week in New Jersey will help to increase awareness and understanding of the violence and injustice that many transgender persons face each day, to educate the community about transgender persons, and to help reduce the incidence of prejudice, discrimination, and violence toward transgender persons; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. The week of November 14th through November 20th of each year is designated as "Transgender Awareness Week" in the State of New Jersey to increase awareness and understanding of the prejudice, discrimination, and violence that transgender persons face
2. The Governor is requested to annually issue a proclamation calling upon public officials and citizens of this State to observe "Transgender Awareness Week" with appropriate activities and programs.
3. This joint resolution shall take effect immediately
STATEMENT
This joint resolution designates the week of November 14th through November 20th of each year as "Transgender Awareness Week" to increase awareness and understanding of the prejudice, discrimination, and violence that transgender persons face. The joint resolution also requests the Governor to annually issue a proclamation calling upon public officials and citizens of this State to observe the week with appropriate activities and programs.