FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Anthony Puglisi
June 21, 2011 973-621-2542
Lauren Shears
973-621-1590
ESSEX COUNTY EXECUTIVE DIVINCENZO HOSTS FIRST-EVER
ESSEX COUNTY LGBTQ PRIDE MONTH CELEBRATION
Presents Star of Essex County Awards to June E. Dowell-Burton,
Rev. Janyce L. Jackson and Dr. Joseph A. Putrino
Introduces Members of Newly-Formed Essex County Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Questioning Advisory Board
Newark, NJ – Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr. hosted the first-ever Essex County LGBTQ Pride Month Celebration on Tuesday, June 21st. The Pride Month Celebration is the first activity of the newly former Essex County Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Questioning Advisory Board and is the newest addition to the year-long schedule of cultural heritage celebrations hosted by the County Executive to raise awareness about the diversity of Essex County’s population.
During the ceremony, DiVincenzo presented Star of Essex County Awards to June E. Dowell-Burton, Founder of the Newark-Essex Pride Coalition; Reverend Janyce L. Jackson; founding member and Pastor of Liberation in Truth Unity Fellowship Church and Executive Director of LIT Social Justice Center in Newark; and Dr. Joseph A. Putrino, Jr., Principal of Northeast Elementary School in Montclair.
“We are proud to celebrate our first Essex County Pride Month and raise awareness about the LGBTQ community in Essex and how this segment of the population has contributed to the development of our County. Our year-long cultural heritage series recognizes the diversity of our residents and it is fitting that we include the LGBTQ community,” DiVincenzo said. “Ms. Dowell-Burton, Rev. Jackson and Dr. Putrino have worked hard to provide support, promote understanding and protect human rights. They are exceptional people who have not always followed the popular path but have always done what is right,” he noted.
During the program, Assembly Speaker Sheila Oliver and NJ State Senator and Essex County Deputy Chief of Staff Teresa Ruiz both spoke about pushing for legislation to legalize marriage for same-sex couples.
“Today’s event made me think of three words: Justice, Equality and Tolerance. Last year we almost were successful in passing legislation for marriage equality. I am encouraged by what is happening in Trenton and next time we will get this passed,” Oliver said.
“I recognize the significance of today’s celebration and the moment the County Executive has created,” Ruiz said. “Today we celebrate but we have to continue educating and raising awareness for equality and basic civil rights. If marriage is OK for me, then it’s OK for everyone. Our job is not done until there is equality,” she added.
June Dowell-Burton is a member of the Essex County LGBTQ Advisory Board. In 2004,she foundedNewark Pride Week to raise awareness about the issues of LGBTQ in Newark. She chairedthe Newark Pride Alliancefrom 2005-2006 and later developed theNewark-Essex Pride Coalitioninto a viable 501(c)3 organization that is on the forefront of social and cultural issues affecting LGBTQ constituents in Newark. InJune 2007,Dowell-Burton, Mayor Cory Booker and other prominent leaders in Newark's LGBTQ community hoisted the rainbow flag over Newark City Hall.
She sat on the 2007 Equality Forum Race Panel and the 35th Newark Black Film Festival "Dreams Deferred" Panel in 2009. Dowell-Burton also presented "The Sakia Gunn Murder: A Catalyst for Renewal of LGBT Activism in Newark" at the Feminism for the Planet: 5th Annual Rutgers Newark Women's Studies Symposium in 2009 and served as one of 23 LGBT Partnership Specialists for the US Department of Commerce's Census Bureau.
“I accept this award on behalf of the pioneers of the LGBTQ community and look forward to working with the Essex County Advisory Board to continue to raise awareness and encourage social justice,” Dowell-Burton said. “Change is coming and it’s here,” he noted.
Reverend Janyce L. Jackson is a founding member and Pastor of Liberation in Truth Unity Fellowship Church in Newark and Executive Director of the LIT Social Justice Center in Newark. The Church was formed in 1995 and is founded on the principle of including all people regardless of their sexual orientation, gender or gender expression. She also leads the LIT Social Justice Center which offers programs and services for HIV Prevention and programs and services for the LGBTQ community, most notably True Colors geared toward LGBTQ youth and young adults.
A noted community leader, Rev. Jackson has been intimately involved in organizing and advocating for equal rights. She was recognized by Garden State Equality for her work in support of marriage equality, was a featured speaker at the 53rd Meeting of the United Nations Statues on the Commission on Women NGO session on “Religion and HIV/AIDS,” was recognized by Newark Essex Pride Alliance for her community work, and serves as Vice Chair of the Newark LGBTQ Advisory Commission.
“I recognize what a big deal with is for those who are fighting every day. To be recognized like this is significant,” Rev. Jackson said. “Because of Joe DiVincenzo, Essex County is first,” she added.
Dr. Joseph A. Putrino, Jr., Principal of Northeast Elementary School in Montclair, is being recognized with an Essex County LGBTQ Ally Award. During his years as an educator, has publically strived to create safe spaces for all students in the education system. He actively engages in anti-bullying research, policy and evidence-based practices and has presented at several national and international conferences associated with anti-bullying prevention.
In addition, Putrino is the Co-Creator and Co-Director of the RESPECT Campaign (Respecting Every Single Person & Educating Classroom Teams), which is an anti-bullying training program for students, school personnel and community members. The RESPECT Campaign uniquely addresses sexual minority youth and homophobia in each training session. Aside from his notable accomplishments in his profession, his routine practices of removing sexist and biased language and behavior from school policy, curriculum and programming has clearly recognized him as a leader in the field, an ally in the campaign for equality and a promise of better days.
“I am pleased to live in a time when we can all stand up and be recognized,” Putrino said. “Our differences should not tear us apart, they should bring us together. The elementary school level is the perfect place to teach our kids to respect and accept our differences,” he said.
The Essex County LGBTQ Pride Month Celebration is the part of a yearlong cultural series created by County Executive DiVincenzo to highlight Essex County’s diversity. Other cultural heritage celebrations include African American History Month, Irish Heritage Month, Women’s History Month, Italian Heritage Month, Jewish Heritage, Portuguese Heritage and Latino Heritage.
Essex County Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Questioning Advisory Board
In December 2010, DiVincenzo announced the creation of the Essex County Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Questioning Advisory Board and requested residents who were interested in volunteering their time to submit resumes. Of the many applicants, 15 Essex County residents were chosen to serve on the newly formed LBGTQ Advisory Board.
“Throughout my administration, we have reached out to obtain the public’s perspective on a many issues and formed a variety of volunteer boards to provide advice and guidance, including senior citizens, our youth and our parks, to name a few. For too long, the Lesbian-Gay community was underrepresented and it was about time that we formed an advisory board to help us gain insight into the issues facing this community,” DiVincenzo said. “This new volunteer advisory board will help raise awareness about the issues facing the gay, lesbian, bisexual community and advise us in our policy decisions. My administration has worked proactively to highlight the diversity in Essex County, and this panel will provide this population with a strong voice,” he added.
Selected to serve on the Essex County LGBTQ Advisory Board are the following Essex County residents:
· Troy R. Stevenson of Newark, Managing Director for Advocacy with Garden State Equality. Mr. Stevenson was chosen to serve as Chairman of the Essex County LGBTQ Advisory Board.
· Kathy Ahearn-O’Brien of Montclair, Executive Director of the Hyacinth AIDS Foundation
· Stacy L. Brodsky of Millburn, a Chiropractic Physician with a solo practice
· June E. Dowell-Burton of Newark, operates her own consulting firm and is Founder of the Newark-Essex Pride Coalition
· Paul L. Frene of Nutley, a financial services representative and Founder of the Metro New York Regional Council for Out and Equal
· Robyn B. Gigl of Livingston, Managing Partner in a Livingston law firm
· Henry Godette of Belleville, Manager of NJREACT, a study for the National HIV Behavioral Surveillance Project
· Eric S. Goldman of Glen Ridge, an entertainment attorney and Board Member of the AIDS Treatment Activist Coalition and Rainbow Families of New Jersey
· Amanda Heimann of Millburn, formerly worked with The Masakhane Center organizing and promoting a book about Newark youths’ perspective on sex
· Gary Hilbert of South Orange, an advertising executive with 27 years experience
· Silvia C. Pastor of Orange, a Visiting Professor who teaches graduate courses in psychology at Montclair State University
· Janice L. Rainford of Newark, an Adjunct Professor at Union County College and a Residential Coordinator for patients transferring from psychiatric care to independent living
· Kara Tucina Olidge of West Orange, Director of HMI To Go: Newark
· J. Frank Vespa-Papaleo of West Orange, Adjunct Professor at Montclair State University where he teaches a course on school anti-bullying and Founder of his own consulting company
· Gary Paul Wright of South Orange, Executive Director of African American Office of Gay Concerns