Bias Crimes - Made fighting bias crime a top priority for New Jersey law enforcement. Gov. Whitman extended the state’s bias crimes laws to include crimes intended to intimidate because of gender or handicap,
and she has emphasized the need to educate youth about the need to combat hate crimes through her Many Faces/One Family Initiative.
Source: NJ Governor’s web site, “By the Numbers”
Dec 25, 2000
Supports affirmative action
Affirmative Action - Supported affirmative action and signed legislation that helps minority and women-owned firms compete for state contracts.
Governor Whitman also signed an executive order requiring that agencies that hire bond counsel, financial advisors and other professionals give particular consideration to minority-and New Jersey-owned firms.
Source: NJ Governor’s web site, “By the Numbers”
Dec 25, 2000
Supports gay rights
Whitman, unpopular with conservatives because she supports abortion rights and gay rights, will be put in a role where she’ll have no effect on social policy.
Source: ABCnews.com
Dec 23, 2000
Economic opportunity regardless of gender or ethnicity
I’m proud that my administration is fighting for policies like affirmative action. We must make sure that economic opportunity exists for everyone. Not just for the privileged, not just for people of a certain color or
gender or ethnicity - but for everyone. We can’t just pass laws against discrimination. We have to make sure those laws work.
Source: Speech to NJ NAACP Convention
Sep 16, 2000
Do not allow president’s power to corrupt feminist values
Feminist leaders have stood by as women who’ve charged the President with improper behavior have their pasts investigated and their physical appearances ridiculed. I signed a law in New Jersey outlawing that sort of character assassination
in sexual assault trials. It’s equally out of place here. By remaining silent, feminist leaders are sending the message that issues like gender discrimination and sexual harassment aren’t always absolutely wrong.
Source: Speech at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government
Oct 29, 1998
Click here for definitions & background information on Civil Rights.
