Newark Mayor Cory Booker Talks LGBT Rights

Guest blogger Alex Davidson attended a presentation by Newark Mayor Cory Booker this past weekend in New Jersey.  Booker, one of the nation's rising political stars, spoke to members of the New York chapter of the National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association.

Newark Mayor Cory Booker addressed everything from bias crimes to re-development issues this past weekend in a forum with journalists and community members organized by the New York chapter of the National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association.

Booker started off the discussion by admitting that Newark has not historically been an “enlightened” community when it comes to LGBT issues. Although he did not note clarify his remarks, those in the audience knew what he was talking about: the 2003 killing of Sakia Gunn and the 2007 school yard shootings of three college students. Gunn’s murder was a hate crime but the school yard deaths were not, even though much speculation still circulates since that area was a known hangout space for LGBT youth.

The mayor addressed the need to get Newark’s police better trained on dealing with LGBT cases and people, and he asked those in the audience to help codify what the city should view as bias crimes. He said he also is still working toward creating a “safe space” in Newark where LGBT youth can congregate.

“The challenges are perverse and pervasive,” Booker said of the hurdles Newark faces in establishing equal treatment for its LGBT residents. “We’ve made some good progress over the last three years, but we have more to do.”

Booker conceded that he’s waging an uphill fight when it comes to championing the LGBT cause. He conceded that, “…in the city of Newark, it’s ok to be hateful.” That mindset means citizens, clergy and politicians do not have to treat LGBT residents as equal and thus the community is routinely marginalized.

Community residents peppered booker with questions about how he can improve relations between LGBT people and the Newark Police Department. Booker said his office is close to announcing the creation of a LGBT liaison position that will work with the LGBT community on discrimination. The mayor also said that he is looking for consultants to come in and train the city’s police force on how to deal with LGBT residents and crimes against the community.

To date, Booker conceded the police force has not been the most aware of issues in the LGBT community. “We recognized the problem and it’s a major concern of ours,” he said.

Booker asked Newark residents to help him find religious allies who support the LGBT equality cause. The city, he explained, has a lot of clergy railing against LGBT folks and the fair treatment they seek. Personally, though, Booker described himself as a Christian and said: “I’m so offended by the depth of hatred (against LGBT people).”

On the national level, the mayor echoed his support for President Obama but said that, as a citizen, he is frustrated at the slow pace of change in for LGBT Americans. “We should continue pushing and agitating for change,” he said. “As an American, I am very concerned where we are on issues of equality and justice.”

Still, Booker said he understands that the president, as an executive, has to deal with multiple, country-changing issues that must first be dealt with.

The last points Booker made were about the upcoming gubernatorial election in New Jersey and the re-development of Newark.

For the governor’s race, Booker said he’s still backing incumbent Democratic Gov. John Corzine because, if re-elected, Corzine will fully support equal marriage rights in the Garden State. He also said Corzine’s re-election is necessary because there are New Jersey Supreme Court appointments coming up.

As for Newark’s renaissance, Booker said new businesses and residents continue moving into the city, making it on of the fastest-growing cities in the northeast. Booker encouraged LGBT couples to move into Newark because they will create demand for LGBT-owned establishments that could transform the face of downtown businesses.