This event is part of the Roxbury Libr ary&rsquo\;s Common Grounds series presented by the Libra ry and the Roxbury Coalition for Social Change\, which explores and facili tates civil conversations on race\, political beliefs\, gender\, creed and more\, celebrating diversity in Roxbury.
\nA Living History of the LGBTQ+ road travelled\, panelists will give an overview of major even ts in the LGBTQ+ timeline. Speakers will relate personal histories regardi ng Manny's Den Case (1967)\, Same Gender Adoption (1997)\, Marriage Equali ty (2015)\, Protection of Transgendered Students (2016)\, NJ Inclusive Cur riculum Law (2019) and NJ's ban of "Gay Panic Defense" (2020). Program sub ject to change.
\nAbout the Panelists:
\nSue Henderson (She\, Hers)\, is a retired Health and Physical Education teacher and school counselor. Sue i s currently Co-Chair of GLSEN Central NJ -- an organization which promotes safe and inclusive schools by providing resources and staff training as w ell an annual GSA forum for students.
\nJon and Michael Gall uccio\, the catalysts for legislation that made New Jersey the fi rst state in the nation to allow joint adoption by gay and unmarried coupl es. Jon and Michael share their story of bringing infant Adam into their h ome around the Christmas of 1996\, nursing him to health and overcoming th e roadblocks they encountered in 1997 during their legal battle to formall y adopt him. They went on to adopt a second baby\, Madison and her half-si ster Rosa\, who lived in a group foster home through her early teens. Jon and Michael are parents to three children and three grandchildren\, and ha ve proven that you can be gay and have the American dream including a fami ly\, despite the enormous obstacles of homophobia and discrimination.
\ nDebbie Russ \;is a mother of a transgender daught er and a long time resident of Mt. Olive. She is a Social Worker with an L SW and an advocate for mental health in adolescents. \; She has done o ther speaking events at Morristown Memorial Hospital\, and multiple privat e schools throughout the area. She is here as a parent to share her ongoin g journey as a parent of a transgender youth. \;
\nGordo n Sauer (He\, His)is a retired NJ educator with over 40 years of experience\, and works with a number of LGBTQ+ organizations including GLS EN (A national organization dedicated to making schools safe for LGBTQ+ st udents)\, SAGE (A national organization which supports LGBTQ+ older adults ) and GAAMC (NJ&rsquo\;s Oldest LGBT organization). He lives with his husb and of 27 years and enjoys music\, being outdoors and having fun.
\nMickey Suiter has been an LGBTQ community activist for ne arly 50 years. In 1972\, he and three friends founded the Gay Activist All iance in Morris County (GAAMC). He represented GAAMC with the New Jersey L esbian and Gay Coalition and worked with them to oppose re-criminalization of sodomy in 1978. He also worked with the NJLGC Personal Liberty Fund to promote AIDS education and the Committee to End Discrimination to amend N ew Jersey&rsquo\;s Law Against Discrimination to add sexual orientation to the protected categories. He started GAAMC&rsquo\;s Pride Guide\, a resou rce directory for the community\, in 1985. He volunteered with Garden Stat e Equality in the fight for marriage equality. Mickey served as president of GAAMC in 1976\, 1981\, 1986\, 2011 and 2012. Since moving to Florida in 2017\, he and his husband\, John DeLeeuw\, have worked with Ocala Pride a nd started an LGBTQ social group in their community.
\nAnd others to be announced.
\nModerator: Roxbury Township Mayor Bob DeFillippo has more than 40 years of senior leadershi p experience in corporate communications\, journalism\, government and pub lic policy. \; As the Chief Communications Officer for Prudential Fina ncial\, Inc.\, he led the Global Communications Department and oversaw Pru dential&rsquo\;s public relations and internal communications around the w orld. During that time\, Bob led communications for the company&rsquo\;s h istoric transition from a mutual to a public company &ndash\; one of the l argest IPOs in the insurance industry. He also served as executive sponsor to Eagles -- Prudential's LGBTQ+ employee resource group\, which introduc ed the company's first Ally program. \; Bob currently serves as an adj unct professor at NYU's School of Professional Studies\, where he lectures graduate students on Strategic Communications\, Crisis Communications\, a nd Critical Business Skills for Communicators. \; \;
\nGAAMC is a not-for-profit volunteer-run organization that provide s social\, educational\, and outreach programs. GAAMC also offers opportun ities for individuals to become politically active on issues related to th e GLBTI community. Our intent is to maintain a positive\, healthy\, respec tful and supportive environment in a safe space.
\nRegister online or call the library at 97 3-584-2400.
\nhttps://roxburylibrary.libnet.info/event/5618405 URL;VALUE=URI:https://roxburylibrary.libnet.info/event/5618405 ATTACH:https://static.libnet.info/images/events/roxburylibrary/gaamc.jpg END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR