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NCTE Issues Analysis of the REAL ID Act
US Supreme Court Hears Voter ID Case
New Jersey Passes Hate Crimes/Anti-Bullying Law
News 2008
NCTE Issues Analysis of the REAL ID Act
(March 14, 2008) NCTE issues a response to the Department of Homeland Security and the REAL ID act. Read more on our REAL ID page.
US Supreme Court Hears Voter ID Case Starting Today
(January 9, 2008) A voting rights case comes before the United States Supreme Court today. Oral arguments will be heard challenging an Indiana voting law requiring government-issued ID with photo. The court is expected to issue a decision sometime in June 2008, in time for the November Presidential election.
Voting issues affect the transgender community, and therefore, this case will be an interesting one to follow. For background on the case, see these webpages:
Voter ID Laws Are Set to Face a Crucial Test
New York Times - January 7, 2008
Voting Rights Advocates Challenge Voter ID Laws
civilrights.org - January 7, 2008
Crawford v. Marion County Election Board
Electronic Privacy Information Center
And also, don’t forget to check out NCTE’s Voting webpage and our publication, “Overcoming Voting Obstacles.”
Victory in New Jersey! New Jersey Legislature Passes Gender Identity/Expression
Hate Crime and School Anti-Bulllying Law
(January 7, 2008) Today, the New Jersey General Assembly passed A4591/S2975 by a large majority of 65-10. This follows action last week in the state Senate where the bill passed unanimously 35-0. The law that passed will now go to Governor Corzine's desk for his expected signature.
NCTE congratulates our wonderful allies at Garden State Equality and Gender Rights Advocacy Association of New Jersey (GRAANJ) who have continued to represent transgender people in New Jersey with Incredible skill and determination.
Basically, the bill adds gender identity and expression to the state's hate crime law and gives teeth to New Jersey's safe school, anti-bullying laws.
According to Garden State Equality specifically, "the new law does the following:
- Adds 'gender identity or expression' as a protected class to the state hate crimes law.
- Updates other parts of the hate crimes law by adding 'national origin' as a protected category, which thus far has been included in the law by interpreting 'ethnicity' to include such; and substitutes the more sensitive term 'disability' for 'handicap.'
- Specifies that a 'mistake of fact' by a defendant committing a hate crime is not a defense.
- Requires two hours of hate-crimes sensitivity training for all new police officers.
- Specifies suggested sentencing options to which judges can sentence defendants, such as anti-hate sensitivity training.
- Creates a study Commission on Bullying in Schools, which has nine months to investigate the problem and make recommendations to the Governor and legislature for further legislation.
- Requires schools post their anti-bullying policies on their websites, and to distribute their anti-bullying policies, within 120 days after enactment of the law."
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