NJ Mayor Calls LGBT Curriculum "An Affront To Almighty God"

Republican Mayor Alfonso Cirulli of Barnegat Township, New Jersey, is angry over a new law that will introduce LGBT curriculum to schools and has launched a campaign urging residents to join him in his outrage.

The legislation, Senate Bill 1569, was signed into law in January by Gov. Phil Murphy. The law requires middle and high schools to include lessons on the contributions of LGBT people as well as people with disabilities.

Cirulli, a former assistant principal, told a meeting of the Barnegat Township Committee, “The government has no right to teach our kids morality,” according to the Asbury Park Press.

The 60-year-old mayor, who wants the new law reversed, declared the LGBTQ movement is “an affront to Almighty God.”

Mayor Alfonso Cirulli (image via Barnegat Township website)

Cirulli’s position is that teaching teens about the achievements and contributions of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people amounts to “indoctrination” and violates the religious rights of parents.

He also denounced the legalization of same-sex marriage as well.

The Park Press reports the mayor’s comments were met primarily with silence by those in attendance, although some citizens were quick to denounce his statements.

Peggy A. Houle, currently running for a three-year term on the Township Committee, told the mayor, “You are misusing and abusing your power.”

Briget Nunn, a town resident and mental health clinician who often works with LGBTQ youth, told the committee during the public comments period, "I understand that everyone is entitled to their belief and their religious ideas, … but what I have a problem with is when you bring them into a public forum.”

"As public officials … you have to be careful about what message you're sending to these kids I'm counseling, who are already in your schools feeling like they're isolated, alone and not getting the support they need,” she added. “The idea is to teach compassion, tolerance, and understanding.”

Radio station 1010 WINS reports resident Marianne Clemente told the mayor, “You think your speaking dais is a pulpit. You are not supposed to bring religion into this. At other times I have heard you mention Jesus in your speeches, and that is totally inappropriate. We have a separation of church and state. Damn it, adhere to it.”

Jon Oliveira, director of communications for pro-LGBTQ organization Garden State Equality, called Cirulli’s comments “deeply troubling.”

“You cannot opt-out of LGBTQ-inclusive curriculum just like you cannot opt-out of science or black history simply because of ill-informed or close-minded beliefs,” said Oliveira in an email. “LGBTQ history is a part of American history, and to hide or misrepresent who, how, and why we are here today means students would otherwise be learning fiction.”

It comes as no surprise that Cirulli's Facebook page is filled with a litany of pro-Trump, anti-Hillary Clinton propaganda.

Judge Ruled Teen Accused Of Rape Deserved Leniency Because Good Grades & Family

(stock photo via Depositphotos)

Easily one of the most disturbing things I've read in a long time.

From the New York Times:

The 16-year-old girl was visibly intoxicated, her speech slurred, when a drunk 16-year-old boy sexually assaulted her in a dark basement during an alcohol-fueled pajama party in New Jersey, prosecutors said.

The boy filmed himself penetrating her from behind, her torso exposed, her head hanging down, prosecutors said. He later shared the cellphone video among friends, investigators said, and sent a text that said, “When your first time having sex was rape.”

But a family court judge said it wasn’t rape. Instead, he wondered aloud if it was sexual assault, defining rape as something reserved for an attack at gunpoint by strangers.

He also said the young man came from a good family, attended an excellent school, had terrific grades and was an Eagle scout. Prosecutors, the judge said, should have explained to the girl and her family that pressing charges would destroy the boy’s life.

So he denied prosecutors’ motion to try the 16-year-old as an adult. “He is clearly a candidate for not just college but probably for a good college,” Judge James Troiano of Superior Court said last year in a two-hour decision while sitting in Monmouth County.

In New Jersey, juveniles as young as 15-years-old can be tried as adults in serious crimes. Troiano has been accused of showing bias towards teenagers from privileged homes.

The good news is an appeals court has issued a sharp rebuke of Judge Troiano's decision and clears a path for moving the case from family court to a grand jury where the teen will be tried as an adult.

According to prosecutors, during the alleged assault a group of boys slapped the girl's buttocks so hard she still had a mark on her hip the next day. And after the assault, the girl was found vomiting on the floor of the basement.

The Monmouth County prosecutor’s office argued that the case belongs in adult criminal court in part because the boy’s actions were “sophisticated and predatory.”

The prosecutors described the act of recording the cellphone video while committing the assault was "a deliberate act of debasement," adding that it was "calculated and cruel."

In his decision last summer, Troiano said the boy’s actions were not "sophisticated," and called the boy's text messages as “just a 16-year-old kid saying stupid crap to his friends.”

The appellate court disagreed and warned Troiano that he appeared to have "decided the case for himself."

New Jersey To Become 8th State To Allow Terminal Patients To Seek Assisted-Suicide

(image via Pixabay)

New Jersey is thisclose to legalizing medically-assisted suicide for terminally ill patients.

NewJersey.com reports the state Assembly voted 41-33 in favor of the “Medical Aid in Dying for the Terminally Ill Act.”

Just minutes later, the state Senate approved the bill by a vote of 21-16.

Gov. Phil Murphy later issued a statement saying he would sign the measure into law.

“Allowing terminally ill and dying residents the dignity to make end-of-life decisions according to their own consciences is the right thing to do,” the Democratic governor said. “I look forward to signing this legislation into law.”

The law would apply to New Jersey residents who receive a terminal diagnosis, which is defined as "an incurable, irreversible and medically confirmed disease that will end the person’s life within six months."

New Jersey would become the 8th state in the U.S. to adopt a 'right to die' law.

Currently, California, Colorado, Montana, Oregon, Vermont, Hawaii, and Washington have passed legislation for medically-assisted suicide.

Montana’s law, which was established via court ruling, is currently being disputed.

Podcast: Jussie Smollett Attacked, Rita Moreno Honored, An Armed Disruptor At Drag Queen Storytime

In this week's podcast:

• Protester with a gun disrupts Drag Queen Storytime in Houston

• Anti-gay former county Clerk Kim Davis may have to pay big buck for denying same-sex couples marriage licenses

• New Jersey will soon have LGBTQ-inclusive curriculum in schools

• Empire star Jussie Smollett attacked in homophobic, racist assault in Chicago - returns to the concert stage

• Arkansas Supreme Court reverses on Fayetteville city ordinance protecting LGBTQ people

• And my chat with the living legend and EGOT, Rita Moreno

All that and more in this episode of The Randy Report.

News Round-Up: January 31, 2019

Instagram hottie José Adones - check his moves out at the end of this post

Some news items you might have missed:

• A candidate for the Wisconsin state Supreme Court wrote just a few years ago that legalizing homosexuality would lead to bestiality. But he has no bias against LGBTs whatsoever...

• New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy has signed a law requiring school boards to use instructional materials that accurately portray political, economic, and social contributions of LGBTs and persons with disabilities. #Bravo!

• Donald Trump responded to reports of the horrific attack on Empire star Jussie Smollett telling reporters in the Oval Office today, "That I can tell you is horrible. It doesn't get worse."

• Yorke Print Shoppe in Chicago refused to print a fundraising brochure for an LGBTQ charity. The owner, Brad Scull, says he has nothing against "those people" but has an issue with promoting "the lifestyle."

Note: There is no religious exemption to Illinois's nondiscrimination law, and sexual orientation is specifically included as a protected class. So, you do the math...

• The Arkansas Supreme Court on Thursday ruled the city of Fayetteville may not continue enforcing its anti-discrimination ordinance while the city challenged the constitutionality of a 2015 law that prevents cities and counties from enacting their own LGBTQ protections not covered by state law.

• A deaf lesbian couple say Delta Airlines mistreated them when they tried to communicate with a gate agent in Detroit. The women say they wrote down their request to sit next to each other on the plane, but the agent crumpled up their note and threw it away.

• This could technically qualify as a 'Daily Dance' post, but I thought I'd leave this right here.

Florida-based dancer/entertainer José Adones (top of page) is giving you all kinds Latin flavor here. And I ain't mad :)

View this post on Instagram

Que dios bendiga el reggaeton 🎶 • • • • #canciondeedwa #christianandrew #christianandrewunderwear #reggaeton #gogo

A post shared by Jose Dones � (@jose.dones) on Jan 30, 2019 at 7:34pm PST

Podcast: Pop-Star and Pro-Soccer Player Come Out, Plus How Trump's SCOTUS Pick Could Affect Marriage Equality

In this week's podcast:

• The governor of Maine becomes the first in the nation to veto an 'ex-gay therapy' ban

• An Ohio congressman is accused of turning a blind-eye to sex abuse

• Starbucks expands healthcare for transgender employees

• New Jersey adopts new trans rights

• Ohio lawmakers want teachers to snitch on trans students

• How Trump’s new Supreme Court could affect marriage equality

• Pro soccer player Collin Martin comes out

• And Panic! At the Disco’s' Brendon Urie comes out

All that and more in this episode of The Randy Report podcast.

New Jersey Governor Signs Bills Expanding Transgender Rights

New Jersey took positive steps forward on Tuesday when Gov. Phil Murphy signed new legislation into law providing important rights and protections for members of the LGBTQ community.

Murphy campaigned on a promise to protect and expand the rights of the LGBTQ community.

The first bill, SB478, allows transgender residents the ability to change birth and death certificates to reflect their gender identity. According to the new laws, people may choose to identify as male, female or undesignated.

Until now, transgender people had to undergo gender confirmation surgery and provide proof from their physician to amend their birth certificate.

According to Garden State Equality, the LGBTQ organization which helped draft the bill, New Jersey is the 17th state to enact a law dropping the surgery requirement for amending a birth certificate and only the fourth, after California, Oregon and Washington, to allow for a third gender option on the document.

Former Gov. Chris Christie had vetoed the bill twice while in office.

The second bill, SB493, allows a death certificate to reflect a person’s changed gender identity.

The third bill, SB705, provides for the creation of a Transgender Equality Task Force meant to identify barriers for transgender people in areas of housing, health care and criminal justice.

“Allowing vital records to match gender identity is an important step forward that will allow transgender individuals to control the disclosure of their transgender status,” said Gov. Murphy in a statement. “And by creating a Transgender Equality Task Force, New Jersey can ensure that all residents receive the protections they deserve. New Jersey will continue to stand with our LGBTQ residents in the continued pursuit of similar rights nationwide.”

According to a report by the Williams Institute at the University of California, there are approximately 30,100 transgender people living in New Jersey and 1.4 million trans people in the United States.

NJ Police Veteran Lt. James Tracy Is One Of NBC Out's #Pride30

Lieutenant James Tracy (click image to enlarge)

For Pride Month, NBC Out is putting the spotlight on 30 individuals who are bringing positive awareness to and for our LGBTQ community not only through their actions but living by example.

The series is called #Pride30.

So, meet Lt. James Tracy of the Englewood Cliffs Police Department in New Jersey.

Yes, let's stop and take in the photo and all. It's pretty fab.

Now, aside from the biceps and chest on display (when you got a Porsche, you don't keep it in the garage), Officer Tracy has been instrumental in bringing LGBTQ inclusivity to police departments all across Bergen County in the Garden State.

From NBC Out:

Tracy, 40, helped to initiate the Bergen County Police Academy’s very first LGBTQ bias training program in 2016. Now, the New Jersey native is working to expand this program throughout the whole state.

Last June, during LGBTQ Pride Month, Tracy started an initiative where every officer in his department wore “rainbow pride bracelets." The program was intended to show the town's LGBTQ community that their police officers are dedicated to inclusion and are supportive of everyone's rights. The program also initiated a dialogue between officers and numerous residents who asked questions about the bracelets and how they could get one for themselves.

In addition to LGBTQ equality, Tracy has also been dedicated to engaging with youth and training the next generation of law enforcement officers. Tracy is the co-founder and leader of the Junior Police Academy, which is held annually in Englewood Cliffs. It’s a weeklong summer program that trains young people who may want to pursue a career in law enforcement. The program is now in its 14th year.

In true Pride Month fashion, the 40-year-old police veteran shares that he was 'in the closet' for the first 10 years of his career as a police officer.

Acknowledging he worked with great professionals in the police department, he was still wary of telling his co-workers the truth about his sexual orientation for fear that they would not accept him.

Eventually, the weight of his personal truth became too much to carry and he slowly began to share with his co-workers.

"The relief that I experienced after coming out can't be described with words; it was just this enormous weight off my shoulders," says Tracy. "After experiencing that, I wanted to help other gay officers who may be dealing with the same struggles. Ten years of hiding who I am was much too long; life is too short to hide anything about yourself."

Because of his personal experience, Tracy helped to initiate the Bergen County Police Academy’s very first LGBTQ bias training program in 2016. And now the native New Jerseyan is moving to share that program throughout New Jersey.

Tracy says he finds "do's" and "don't" in bias training shuts down interaction due to fear of saying or doing the wrong thing.

"If you train people from a diversity and inclusion perspective, you don't need to spend a lot of time on 'don't do this' and 'don't do that.' The LGBTQ population is the only demographic that crosses into every race, ethnicity and religion. Essentially, we are a minority within a minority, and if agencies are not providing bias training on LGBTQ issues, they are missing a huge minority segment."

NBC Out closes it's profile of the handsome officer by asking what pride means to him. His answer is spot on.

"Pride to me is about being proud of yourself, accepting yourself, and everything about yourself — regardless of what other people think."

I couldn't agree more.

Make sure you follow NBC Out's series #Pride30 which includes Tracy, Parkland shooting survivor Emma Gonzalez, trans Virginia lawmaker Danica Roem, Hollywood producer Greg Berlanti, and a whole bunch of way impressive/inspiring LGBT folks you should know.

One more thing: I'm gonna say normally I resize photos for The Randy Report so the images fit my blog.

In this case, however, I couldn't bring myself to deprive you of the full-size awesomeness that is Lt. James Tracy.

So click the image to enlarge the pic above.

#HappyPride2018

New Jersey: Teen Gay Couple Ends Prom Night With A Surprise

(images via Theodore Vidal)
Theodore Vidal (L), Colin Beyers (R)

It’s prom season, and like many couples across America, teenagers Theodore Vidal and his boyfriend Colin Beyers were making the most of the end of their prom night last Friday night.

The two high schoolers, in their matching navy blue tuxes and pink bow ties, took a stroll on the boardwalk in Seaside Heights, New Jersey, after their junior prom.

As they walked, they approached a rooftop bar where a rowdy group of quintessential "Jersey Shore bros" had been yelling at every couple who passed by to kiss.

Michael Del Moro, a producer for Good Morning America, happened to be out for ice cream with his boyfriend and family members when they noticed the rowdy “bros” and the cute couple at the same time.

Del Moro was initially worried about what might happen when the gay couple passed the group.

So was Vidal, apparently. He told the local ABC affiliate that he and Beyers readied themselves for the razzing. "It's South Jersey. Guys pick on us for being gay a lot," said 17-year-old high school junior. "It's an area where you normally would get picked on and discriminated against."

Vidal had come out when he was in 8th grade and knew well the bullying being gay can bring. He told Buzzfeed that he spent much of that year being attacked, bullied, ignored and told to “end his life.”

But, he and Del Moro were surprised when the rooftop crowd cheered, changing their chants of “Kiss her” to “Kiss him!” Vidal and Beyers hesitantly kissed one another, and rather than taunting the couple the rooftop crew went wild screaming their approval.

Vidal told ABC7, “The way it went down was amazing. It was so positive and so reinforcing that I could be myself and not get made fun of and I could be myself with who I love and not get made fun of for that.”

"A lot of people here think gay people aren't strong or we're more girly because we show emotion but we've learned it's better to show what you are feeling and be open and who you are as long as you are pushing forward," Beyers added.

The cute couple is now planning a summer trip to Greece together before Beyers begins his freshman year at the College of New Jersey this fall while Vidal wraps up his senior year of high school.

Del Moro later tweeted he actually knew some of the rooftop bar “bros.” They were apparently celebrating their friends’ bachelor party and loved the whole thing saying, “We are all very happy for those guys.”

Check out Del Moro’s full Twitter thread below.

A short thread from here in Seaside Heights, NJ, where—not so long ago—young men would shout the word “f****t” out their car window as we’d stroll along the boardwalk.

— Michael Del Moro (@MikeDelMoro) May 12, 2018

Last night, while out for Mother’s Day with our families (read: getting some late-night ice cream because treat yourself!) we noticed a group of rowdy bros gathered on a rooftop bar obnoxiously yelling “KISS HER!” in unison at every apparent couple that passed by.

— Michael Del Moro (@MikeDelMoro) May 12, 2018

It was quintessential “Jersey Shore” and, unfortunately, several couples obliged the request to raucous cheers thereby further encouraging the rowdiness. We rolled our eyes.

— Michael Del Moro (@MikeDelMoro) May 12, 2018

It’s prom season here, so at that time of night you’ll see high schoolers in their formal attire. As we walked by the rooftop bros, an adorable teenage gay couple passed us in perfectly fitting midnight bue tuxes, matching pink ties, holding hands.

— Michael Del Moro (@MikeDelMoro) May 12, 2018

I looked at Alec (my boyfriend), my mom, my sister, and stopped to make sure the couple was okay as they walked by... worried that something might happen. The rooftop crew quickly switched from “KISS HER!” To “KISS HIM!”

— Michael Del Moro (@MikeDelMoro) May 12, 2018

After some hesitation, the young men kissed... and let me tell you: both the rooftop crew and everyone else on the boardwalk just went absolutely wild for them and we all breathed a sigh of relief.

— Michael Del Moro (@MikeDelMoro) May 12, 2018

This is not a “look everything’s fine now, thread,” and yes... it’s New Jersey, but I just thought it was worth sharing and an encouraging moment for young LGBTQ folks out there.

— Michael Del Moro (@MikeDelMoro) May 12, 2018

Omg... h/t to @JMiller_NJ for finding these two! Good for you being so brave and open Theodore and Colin! https://t.co/Moe0n87J6M https://t.co/oDtcsYSBXs pic.twitter.com/RidLuj3dUy

— Michael Del Moro (@MikeDelMoro) May 12, 2018

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie Bans "Bump Stocks" On Last Day In Office

Gov. Chris Christie

Color me surprised by outoing New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie.

From NJ.com:

New Jersey has now banned “bump stocks,” controversial firearm accessories allegedly used by the shooter in last year’s Las Vegas massacre.

The devices can be affixed to semiautomatic rifles to allow them to fire bullets, mimicking automatic weapons.

But under the new law — which takes effect immediately — anyone who owns one has 90 days to surrender them to authorities. Retailers have 30 days.

Christie, a Republican, signed the law even though he has long opposed new gun-control measures in the state.

Podcast: Texas' Anti-Trans Bill; Star Trek Discovery; New Jersey's Support For Trans Students

Listen in as I discuss this week’s LGBTQ headlines including:

• The Texas Legislature is on its way to approving an anti-transgender “bathroom” bill

• Rhode Island becomes the 9th state to ban harmful “ex-gay therapy”

• New Jersey passes required guidance for trans students

• Star Trek Discovery will feature its first gay romantic couple

• We may soon find out if Academy Award winner Moonlight opened the door for more mainstream success for queer-themed cinema

All that and more on this episode of The Randy Report.

For past episodes, or to subscribe to the podcast for free, click here.

And, by the way, please feel free to share The Randy Report podcast with friends. It's a great way to catch up on the week's LGBT political, pop culture and entertainment headlines in about 15 minutes :)

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie Soaks Up Rays With Family On Closed State Beach

This past Saturday, incredibly unpopular New Jersey Governor Chris Christie (only 15% of NJ approves of the job he's doing) ordered a shut down of the state government due to a budget impasse with the Democratic controlled legislature.

The shutdown included all state parks and beaches during the July 4 weekend. The shutdown is only the second in the state's history.

According to reports, even a 25 member Cub Scout pack was ejected from a state park.

Christie’s administration has been ruthless about enforcement, kicking out a Cub Scout Pack with 25 kids from a state park.

But Christie was busted when he and his family were photographed soaking up the sun on Island Beach State Park.

On Sunday, he told reporters he "didn't get any sun" on Saturday.

“I didn’t. I didn’t get any sun today,” Christie said.

When the pesky, inconvenient photos were brought up to a Christie spokesman, the reply was twisted into explaining that Christie “did not get any sun” because he “had a baseball hat on.”

Asked if this is fair, Christie said Saturday: "Run for governor, and you can have a residence there."

Chris Christie & guests enjoying NJ beach — after he ordered state beaches closed to the public over a budget fight https://t.co/aD3pkhT4vF pic.twitter.com/JkAh31BG08

— Bradd Jaffy (@BraddJaffy) July 2, 2017

"Damn, man, I'm governor! Could you shut up for a second" - Chris Christie to NJ citizen, March 2012. pic.twitter.com/lNeO1UnKDc

— Joshua Zeitz (@JoshuaMZeitz) July 2, 2017

Sure, @ChrisChristie. Let's shut down NJ during one of the busiest tourist weekends. Thanks from all of us at the Shore. #njshutdown pic.twitter.com/FSi3KzsXNG

— Brigid Fitch (@Brigid_Fitch) July 1, 2017

New Jersey: 8 Year Old Transgender Boy Barred From Cub Scout Pack

(via WNBC)

While the Boy Scouts of America have taken long looks and made some decisions on openly gay scouts participating in their organization, the issues surrounding transgender kids is now getting some national focus as a Cub Scout pack in Secaucus, NJ, is barring an 8 year old trans boy.

Dawn Ennis at LGBTQ Nation reports:

One month after 8-year-old Joe Maldonado of Secaucus, N.J. joined Cub Scout Pack 87, his mother received a call that the troop sponsored by their local Catholic church had barred her son from participating. The reason, she told reporters, is because her son was assigned the gender of female at birth. Joe is a transgender boy.

And he told the Star-Ledger he’s not so much sad as he is mad.

“It made me mad. I had a sad face, but I wasn’t crying. I’m way more angry than sad. My identity is a boy. If I was them, I would let every person in the world go in. It’s right to do.”

He had joined in October with the intention of camping, conducting science experiments, and all the other fun things Cub Scouts do, like learning how to tie a variety of knots, use a pocket knife, and go on hikes with his friends. Joe’s classmates not only like him, his mother said, but some of them play with him on a boys basketball team. His school teachers have used male pronouns and have accepted him as the boy he is since second grade, Kristie Maldonado told the newspaper.

“Not one of the kids said, ‘You don’t belong here,’” said Maldonado. It wasn’t the boys in their pack; reportedly, it was their moms.

Eric Chamberlin, an executive with the Northern New Jersey Council of Boy Scouts, based in Oakland, N.J., confirmed to the paper that he called Maldonado last month, but he declined to comment further.

Effie Delimarkos, the communications director for the Boy Scouts of America, told the Star-Ledger in a statement the Boy Scouts consider membership for transgender children to be a separate issue from that of gay children.

“No youth may be removed from any of our programs on the basis of his or her sexual orientation,” and “Gender identity isn’t related to sexual orientation.”

The Boy Scouts spokeswoman declined to directly address the Secaucus troop issue and did not answer inquiries about whether local or state Scouting leaders contacted the national office about Joe Maldonado.

But in her statement, Delimarkos made it clear that “the classification on the participant’s birth certificate” would be used to “confirm legal status.”

Chamberlin did not ask to examine Joe’s birth certificate, the boy’s mother told the paper. If the Boy Scouts have ever examined birth certificates for the gender markers, Delimarkos wouldn’t say. And she declined to say whether the Scouts have a written transgender policy.

Hillary Clinton Wins New Jersey Democratic Primary

Donald Trump Claims "Thousands" Cheered In New Jersey On 9/11

Speaking at a campaign rally in Birmingham, Alabama on Saturday, Donald Trump made the ridiculous claim that he saw "thousands" cheer in New Jersey on 9/11: “I watched when the World Trade Center came tumbling down, and I watched in Jersey City, New Jersey where thousands and thousands of people were cheering as that building was coming down,” he said.

Trump doubled down on that assertion today on ABC This Week:

On Sunday, in an interview with ABC’s George Stephanopoulos, Trump reiterated his claim. “There were people that were cheering on the other side of New Jersey where you have large Arab populations, he said. “There were people over in New Jersey that were watching it, a heavy Arab population that were cheering as the buildings came down. Not good.”

“I know it might be not politically correct for you to talk about it, but there were people cheering as that building came down,” Trump said Sunday. “That tells you something.”

“It was well covered at the time, George. Now, I know they don’t like to talk about it, but it was well covered at the time.”

Actually, it wasn’t: according to both the Associated Press and the New York Times, there are no accounts of such demonstrations taking place in contemporary news reports.

Watch below:

New Jersey: Radio Producer Joe Votruba Comes Out On The Air

Great feel good story coming out of New Jersey concerning Joe Votruba, the afternoon show producer and writer for New Jersey 101.5, the largest FM talk radio station in America.

Last Friday, Joe came out live on air during the Deminski & Doyle Show, which he produces. The off the cuff announcement barely seemed to throw radio hosts Jeff Deminski and Bill Doyle off guard.

The moment happened as the host's were discussing the wisdom of being friends with your ex. During the segment, Joe said, “I can give you a story. This story has to come with an announcement first of all. I’m gay. But we’ll talk about that later.”

From the show’s website:

We spent the hour debating whether or not it’s ever okay to remain friends with an ex. Joe chimed in with a story of his own, but he buried the lead. Little did we know that this was going to be the moment when Joe V decided to announce to the audience that he’s gay. We are so happy for him that he did, though!

The über-cool thing is how calm the announcement came and went. His radio hosts, who knew he was gay although Joe had not gone "public" public with the news, completely rocked and rolled with the announcement and kept on chatting with the topic at hand.

Later, Joe expressed his thanks on Facebook to those who offered him support after coming out on the air.

“While a lot of my friends and relatives were already aware of that fact that I’m gay, Friday afternoon was the first time I ever talked about that aspect of my life on the air. Your kind words in response have been so incredible and you are all truly amazing. I just want to say THANK YOU for your outpouring of love, support and acceptance. Stay hungry and stay free!”

I really love how the rhythm of the show and the hosts didn't skip a beat when Joe shared his news. This was smooth, kids.

It really informs us on how far we've come.

Congratulations, Joe!

Majority Of New Jersey Residents Feel Christie Should Resign

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie

A new Monmouth University poll shows New Jersey residents think newly announced GOP presidential candidate and current NJ Gov. Chris Christie has abandoned their state (56 percent to 35 percent) and that he should resign.

Even worse, a solid majority (57 percent to 37 percent) believe he should resign because he is now campaigning for office.

A whopping 71% said Christie could not effectively govern the state well while running for the presidency.

New Jersey: "Ex-Gay" Therapy Loses In Court

A New Jersey jury found a "life coach" and a non-profit group called JONAH guilty of consumer fraud in the first court case in the country to address the practice of so-called "ex-gay" or "conversion" therapy.

From NJ.com:

The jury concluded that Arthur Goldberg and Elaine Berk, the founders of Jews Offering New Alternatives for Healing in Jersey City and life coach Alan Downing to whom JONAH referred patients, "engaged in unconscionable commercial practices" and misrepresented their services.

The verdict requires JONAH and Downing to refund thousands of dollars paid by former clients Michael Ferguson, Benjamin Unger, Sheldon Bruck, Chaim Levin, and parents Jo Bruck and Bella Levin for the individual and group counseling sessions and the "journey into manhood" weekends in the woods.

But the victory has broader implications. The national civil rights legal advocacy group Southern Poverty Law Center filed the case to take a stand against conversion therapy — a frequent target of public criticism since the passage of same-sex marriage laws and other LGBT legal protections.

In 2013, New Jersey joined California by outlawing licensed therapists from providing the therapy to minors. Oregon and Washington D.C. followed.

The "therapy" included such activities as beating a pillow with a tennis racket as if the pillow were the patient's mother; undressing in front of the practitioners; and touching themselves to express their "manhood."

New Jersey: High School Wrestling Champ Comes Out During College Recruitment

New Jersey state wrestling champion Alec Donovan

Outsports chronicles the coming out of Alec Donovan, New Jersey state wrestling champion, who is now a top college wrestling recruit.

It was on a recruiting trip to Limestone College in South Carolina that Alec Donovan finally answered "the question." Donovan had just won the New Jersey high school state championship in the 145-pound division of the NJSIAA/Rothman Institute Wrestling Championships. Along with him on the recruiting trip was another New Jersey wrestler who had placed in the state tournament.

"Rumor is you're bisexual," the other recruit said to him. "Is it true?"

It had been a long journey for Donovan, once fraught with fear, depression and suicidal thoughts since realizing he was gay as a high school freshman. Now a senior approaching graduation, he had climbed out of the abyss all the way to a state title and a peace of mind. There were a select few close to him who knew his secret, but he had never shared it with other top wrestlers.

"The rumor isn't true," Donovan told the other recruit. "I'm not bisexual... I'm gay."

Be sure to read the full account over at Outsports.

By this fall's 2015-16 collegiate season, Alec will most probably be the first openly gay NCAA wrestler.

Alec's journey took him from considering suicide to being a part of a high school program that tackles intimidation and bullying.

Bravo.

New Jersey: Gov. Christie Appointee Pleads Guilty In Bridge Closing

Chris Christie ally pleads guilty in Bridgegate case http://t.co/0sI6Xh1Fjl

— HuffPost Politics (@HuffPostPol) May 1, 2015

David Wildstein, former Port Authority official, has pled guilty to federal charges for his role in causing huge traffic issues at the Washington Bridge as retribution against a small town mayor who refused to endorse Gov. Chris Christie for reelection.

This comes after a 16 month federal investigation.

Wildstein was an appointee of Christie and former close ally.

From Mother Jones:

The guilty plea, from comes as federal prosecutors prepare to indict two others close to Christie for their roles in the incident—and as Christie prepares to make a bid for the 2016 GOP presidential nomination. A New Jersey judge will unseal those indictments on Friday, the New York Times reports.

Wildstein's plea and the looming indictments are a result of a 16-month federal investigation into the George Washington Bridge scandal. In September 2013, Port Authority officials shut down several access lanes in the town of Fort Lee, New Jersey, setting off a mammoth traffic jam that lasted three days. Christie's office denied involvement. But the following January, a judge released texts and emails suggesting that Christie's inner circle masterminded the traffic debacle as political payback against Fort Lee's Democratic mayor.

Wildstein ordered the lane closures that led to the traffic jam. The Port Authority official, who went to high school with Christie, was described as the governor's "eyes and ears" inside the agency. But after the bridge scandal burst into public view, Christie sought to distance himself from Wildstein. Wildstein resigned his Port Authority position in December.

The messages released in January revealed that Bridget Anne Kelly, a top aide in Christie's administration, had also helped order the lane closures. The day of the traffic jam, Kelly wrote to Wildstein: "Time for some traffic problems in Fort Lee." "Got it," Wildstein replied. Christie has repeatedly denied having any prior knowledge of the lane closures.