WHEREAS, the State of New Jersey is committed to assuring that all of its citizens receive equal protection under the law; and

WHEREAS, New Jersey has demonstrated this commitment through laws which protect citizens from discrimination on the basis of race, sex, creed, religious affiliation, national origin and other identifying characteristics; and

WHEREAS, these laws have yet to recognize a portion of the population that deserves equal protection under the law; and

WHEREAS, the time has come to correct this inequity and bridge this gap in our system of comprehensive civil rights protection;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, JAMES J. FLORIO, Governor of the State of New Jersey, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and by the statutes of this State, do hereby ORDER and DIRECT:

1. All Executive Branch departments, agencies, boards, commissions and other bodies shall prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation in any matter pertaining to employment by the State, including but not limited to, hiring, job appointment, promotion, tenure, recruitment and compensation.

2. No Executive Branch department, agency, board, commission or other body shall discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation against any person in the provision of any service or benefit by such department, agency, board, commission or other body.

3. The Attorney General is hereby directed to develop guidelines for implementation of this Order.

4. All Executive Branch departments, agencies, boards, commissions and other bodies are directed to cooperate fully with the Attorney General to effectuate this Executive Order and to provide the Attorney General with information, data and assistance upon request.

5. This Order shall take effect immediately.

GIVEN, under my hand and seal this
16th day of August in the Year of Our
Lord, one thousand nine hundred and
ninety-one, and of the Independence
of the United States, the two hundred
and sixteenth.

/s/ James J. Florio
GOVERNOR

Attest:

/s/
Maureen Kehoe Rothfelder
Assistant Counsel to the Governor