UNION COUNTY OFFICE OF LGBTQ AFFAIRS
Contact
Danni Newbury, Coordinator
Phone: 908 527-4742
Email: dnewbury@ucnj.org
County of Union Administration Building
Office of LGBTQ Affairs,2nd Floor
Department of Economic Development
10 Elizabethtown Plaza
Elizabeth, NJ 07207
About
Union County’s Office of LGBTQ Affairs, under the Department of Economic Development, was established by the Freeholder Board in 2018 and is the first county government office of its kind in the State of New Jersey – one of four government offices in the nation to support the LGBTQ community, of which only two are county government offices.
Union County’s Office of LGBTQ Affairs offers a platform for leadership and collaboration to support equality, and serves as a catalyst for advocacy, awareness and action on current and emerging issues that impact the lives of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer individuals.
Pride in Place 2020
Lunch & Learn
Join us from 12 Noon until 1 PM for a town-hall style discussion to include a short presentation of the topic for each day with an opportunity for viewers to ask questions.
Monday, June 22 NJ Inclusive Curriculum discussion with Garden State Equality
Wednesday, June 24 Know Your Rights discussion with the NJ State Division of Civil Rights
Cancelled Friday, June 26 Creating Welcoming and Inclusive Safe Spaces (for students and colleagues) discussion with New Jersey Safe Schools Coalition
Registration Required
Drag Queen Story Hour with Harmonica Sunbeam
Monday, June 22 at 10:00 am
Families and children are invited to tune in for an hour will be packed with children’s stories, sing-along songs, and a rainbow craft. All participants are invited to dress up in your own fabulous costume.
LGBTQ Trivia Night (PG)
Tuesday, June 23 at 7:00 pm
Bring your best LGBTQ history and pop culture knowledge to the Zoom and kick off the night with a strong mix of LGBTQ themed and pop culture factoids. Picture rounds, music rounds, plenty of random facts and interesting tidbits – show off what you know or just be the one to whip out the perfect winning answer.
Beauty Queen Demo with Bella Rococo at Emilia’s – Sponsored by WellCare Health Plans
Wednesday, June 24 at 7:00 pm
Zoom in for an inclusive Beauty Queen Makeup Demo with makeup artists who will explore products, shades and techniques with step-by-step guidance from lips to lashes for different skin tones and textures.
Violence and Justice in the LGBTQ Community Panel Discussion
Thursday, June 25 at 7:00 pm
Union County’s first openly gay Freeholder Rebecca Williams will moderate a panel discussion with guest panelists that offer a perspective from law enforcement, to NJ civil rights and the work of LGBTQ equality from an advocacy organization’s perspective. Participants will have an opportunity engage in the conversation and ask questions of the panelists during the live stream.
Pasta Party Cooking Demo with Pasta Queen Cissy Walken
Friday, June 26 at 6:00 pm
Learn how to make delicious, fresh pasta and enjoy a drag show from the ultimate Pasta Queen no matter where you are! Cook along with Cissy at home, or simply tune in for a festive night of entertainment.
Pride Month Activities
Union County LGBTQ Activity Book Print at home version
Chalk the Sidewalks with PRIDE in your community. Sidewalk chalk techniques and ideas.
13 Rainbow Craft Ideas To Help Kids Celebrate Pride From the Huffington Post
Learn about Pride Month
You might want to begin by simply learning more about the history of Pride Month and the different ways it is celebrated.
The Library of Congress has information about Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Pride Month (LGBT Pride Month) as well as links to executive and legislative documents, including presidential proclamations and public laws.
Books with LGBTQ Characters or by LGBTQ Authors
LGBTQ Books (from Common Sense Media): “From books with main characters who are LGBTQ or still figuring out their gender or sexual orientations, to stories of straight kids or teens with gay friends or parents, these books portray many aspects of the LGBTQ experience.”
LGBTQ+ Collection – LGBTQCOLL (Lee & Low): “The following books capture the celebration of the gender spectrum, family structures, sexuality, identity, and more through engaging storylines featuring relatable children and young people. Promote awareness and advocacy with these children’s books featuring LGBTQ+ voices and perspectives while also addressing universal themes in any relevant setting.”
Poems & More for LGBTQ Pride Month (poets.org): “Explore the rich tradition of LGBTQ poets and poetry through a showcase of audio, video, poetry, and prose.”
Know Your Rights
LGBTQ Resouces
Highlights
In 2018, the County of Union became the first county government in the State of New Jersey to establish an office dedicated to supporting the LGBTQ+ community. The Union County Office of LGBTQ Affairs is one of only four government offices of its kind in the country. Here are some highlights of the work we did in our first year:
We brought together more than 40 professionals who provide services and programs for the LGBTQ community at the first LGBTQ Networking Roundtable.
On Tuesday, February 20, the Office of LGBTQ Services organized and hosted a roundtable with over 20 leading LGBTQ advocacy and ally organizations that serve Union County and New Jersey.
More than 40 participants met to discuss LGBTQ-related programs, services, issues and priorities for 2018. The event encouraged conversations about the many unique challenges of the LGBTQ community including: access to healthcare services; state policy recommendations; safe spaces for LGBTQ individuals and allies; access to resources and information; and achieving safety, permanency and well-being for LGBTQ youth and families. Participants also offered strategic thinking toward building culturally-appropriate programs and partnerships that affirm the dignity and human worth of LGBTQ people and supporters.
We engaged LGBTQ and ally youth to celebrate inclusion through art.
On March 15 and 16, the Office of LGBTQ Services offered an LGBTQ affirming poster making workshop at Union County’s Teen Arts event collecting over 60 poster artwork by Union County teens to support their peers in an project designed to ‘give LGBTQ youth and allies a voice.’ The project will conclude with the creation of a book of affirming artwork submitted anonymously by LGBTQ youth and allies, which will be distributed to public libraries and schools throughout Union County.
We hosted a number of workshops and training sessions to increase awareness, building inclusion and accelerate acceptance.
On Tuesday, April 3, Union County hosted Garden State Equality’s ‘Pledge & Protect’ entry-level workshop “Introductions to the HealthCare Needs of the LGBTQ Population” free for organizations and professionals serving older LGBTQ adults. The session was presented in collaboration with the Union County Office of LGBTQ Services and the Division on Aging and Disability Resource Connection.
On April 11, Union County partnered with the Elizabeth Public Library to host Garden State Equality’s Youth Caucus social justice driven advocacy workshop for youth ages 12 to 19.
On Friday, September 28, Union County hosted GLAAD Media Institute’s Engagement 101 Telling Your Story: Messaging and Media Tools for Today’s Activists LGBTQ accelerating acceptance training course free and open to the public. Participants learned how to get a message of inclusion and acceptance across effectively in the mainstream media narrative about the LGBTQ community.
On Friday, October 19, Union County hosted GLAAD Media Institute’s Engagement 202: Telling Your Story through Social Media accelerating acceptance social media training courses free for anyone who wants to build the core skills and techniques that influence positive cultural change through social media.
We increased community LGBTQ inclusion supporting local family programming.
On August 21, Union County partnered with the Friends of the Rahway Public Library and the City of Rahway to Drag Queen Story Hour, a national children’s program that raises awareness of gender diversity, promotes self-acceptance, and builds empathy through an enjoyable literary experience. The inclusive event was covered by CBS 2 News as well as the Home News Tribute and other local reporters.
We supported LGBTQ business owners and managers seeking to partner with corporations to advance diversity initiatives.
On Wednesday, September 12, Union County collaborated with the NJ LGBT Chamber of Commerce on their second annual ‘Out For Business’ Breakfast – a business and networking event designed to connect LGBTQ entrepreneurs with key contacts and decision makers from various businesses and Fortune 500 companies in New Jersey. Guests had the opportunity to meet and discuss strategies that meet the diversity needs of companies such as PSEG and Prudential, as well as educational institutions such as Rutgers, Princeton and University Hospital.
Photos coming soon
We supported Union County’s Colleges first ever LGBTQ+ History Month events.
As the Coordinator of the Office of LGBTQ Services, Danni Newbury played a key role in Union County College’s first LGBTQ+ History Month events including as the Keynote Speaker at the kickoff event at Union County College main campus on October 23.
On November 6, Union County partnered with Union County College to present a special screening of ‘Love Wins’ followed by a discussion with filmmaker Robin Kampf, and co-stars Jan Moore and Emily Sonnessa, whose love story influenced marriage equality in the state of NJ. The screening marks final event of UCC’s 2018 LGBTQ+ History Month celebration – the first in the college’s history.
We became the first county government in the State of New Jersey to proclaim June PRIDE Month during the first ever Union County PRIDE Flag Raising Ceremony.
On June 4, the rainbow flag flew for the first time at the Union County Courthouse in recognition of June as Pride month. Union County’s Flag Raising Ceremony – the first county government entity in New Jersey to host such a ceremony – featured a performance by Elizabeth’s Thomas Jefferson Arts Academy Acapella Chorus, a presentation of a resolution to the MERCK Rainbow Alliance in recognition of their achievement of receiving a 100 Corporate Equality Index rating from the Human Rights Campaign; guest speeches by prominent Union County LGBTQ advocates Danielle King of Hyacinth Aids Foundation, Union County Sheriff Office LGBTQ Liaison Officer Tamiko Brooks, Hannah Lieberman of PFLAG North Jersey, and Maria Z. Carvalho, President of the Elizabeth Board of Education, who presented a resolution on behalf of the Elizabeth BOE proclaiming June as Pride Month, the first time in the school district’s history.
Photos coming soon
Photos coming soon
We hosted the first TEEN PRIDE event to bring together LGBTQ and ally youth from Union County and the surrounding area for a night of dancing and entertainment.
On June 15, in collaboration with the Union County Performing Arts Center, Union County hosted the first TEEN PRIDE event for LGBTQ Youth ages 16 and older. According to Human Rights Campaign, four out of ten LGBTQ youth say they live in a community that doesn’t accept their sexual orientation. With in-kind contributions from throughout the community, the inclusive evening for LGBTQ youth offered an exciting celebration of individuality in a welcoming environment that affirms who they are – regardless of their gender identity, sexual orientation, how they dress, or any other reason. The event included appetizers and light refreshments, DJ, drag queen emcee, the crowning of the rainbow court, selfie photo booth, candy table and more.
We hosted our second annual Union County PRIDE event celebrating family, equality, diversity and community.
On June 16, Union County hosted the second annual Union County PRIDE event. An inclusive celebration of family, equality, diversity and community, the event featured live music, a variety of arts and crafts (featuring the “LOVE Makes a Family” poster making), lawn games inflatable bounce houses, and much more. More than a dozen New Jersey LGBTQ advocacy and ally organizations offered information, support and networking resources throughout the event. Two highlights of the event include a ‘Trash to Fashion Show” with Drag Queen Harmonica Sunbeam presented by the Elizabeth Public Library, and an Equality Rally with special guest speakers and performances.
Photos coming soon
Photos coming soon
Union County became the first county government in the State of New Jersey to proclaim October LGBTQ History Month and hosted an inaugural event highlighting the LGBTQ and Social Just Activism of renown athlete Billy Jean King
On October 23, Union County hosted the inaugural LGBTQ History Month event, featuring a screening of the 2017 Billie Jean King biographical film ‘Battle of the Sexes’ followed by a discussion about women’s rights and equality in the 70’s and today with NJ equality advocates and civil rights panelists Aggie Roncagleo and Benn Meistrich, Esq. from the New Jersey Division on Civil Rights, and LGBTQ Attorney Bill Singer of Singer & Fedun, LLC in Somerset.
This year, we initiated a strategy for fostering inclusion and accelerating acceptance by recognizing specific LGBTQ community awareness and remembrance dates. The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders – either through a Freeholder statement or resolution – publicly recognized several LGBTQ awareness days most notably:
- Proclaimed by resolution June as Pride Month throughout Union County (the first county government in New Jersey to do so);
- Proclaimed by resolution October as LGBTQ History Month (the first county government in New Jersey to do so);
- On National Coming Out Day (October, 11, 2018) the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders proclaimed by resolution October 11, 2018 as National Coming Out Day throughout the County of Union and further declared Union County ‘A Safe Space for LGBTQ Individuals’ during the Freeholder Board mobile meeting in Plainfield. The County observed National Coming Out Day and participated in the one-day campaign that engages communities to take a stand against the discrimination, violence, harassment, and bullying of LGBTQ people by coming out in support of safe spaces for LGBTQ individuals and allies.
In July 2018, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy and First Lady Tammy Murphy hosted the first ever PRIDE reception at Drumthwacket, the Governor’s mansion.
During the reception Freeholder Rebecca Williams was honored for her work and contributions to the LGBTQ community. She was joined by LGBTQ office Coordinator Danni Newbury.
Faces of Pride
Office of LGBTQ Services coordinator, Danni Newbury was selected by USA Today to represent New Jersey in their 2018 Faces of Pride feature.