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LGBTQ+ Living/Personal History Panel

Virtual Presentation

Presented in partnership with the Gay Activist Alliance of Morris County (GAAMC), speakers highlight historical LGBTQ+ events as they have applied to their own lives.

This event is part of the Roxbury Library’s Common Grounds series presented by the Library and the Roxbury Coalition for Social Change, which explores and facilitates civil conversations on race, political beliefs, gender, creed and more, celebrating diversity in Roxbury.

A Living History of the LGBTQ+ road travelled, panelists will give an overview of major events in the LGBTQ+ timeline. Speakers will relate personal histories regarding Manny's Den Case (1967), Same Gender Adoption (1997), Marriage Equality (2015), Protection of Transgendered Students (2016), NJ Inclusive Curriculum Law (2019) and NJ's ban of "Gay Panic Defense" (2020). Program subject to change.

About the Panelists:

Lauren Albrecht (She/Her/Hers) is a full-time Healthcare Finance Supervisor, managing a department of Data Analysts at a large outsource vendor, and a part-time policy consultant at Garden State Equality. She holds degrees in English and Art History and lives in Wall Township with her family.  Lauren’s interests include live music, literature and travel.

Sue Henderson (She, Hers), is a retired Health and Physical Education teacher and school counselor. Sue is currently Co-Chair of GLSEN Central NJ -- an organization which promotes safe and inclusive schools by providing resources and staff training as well an annual GSA forum for students.

Jon and Michael Galluccio, the catalysts for legislation that made New Jersey the first state in the nation to allow joint adoption by gay and unmarried couples. Jon and Michael share their story of bringing infant Adam into their home around the Christmas of 1996, nursing him to health and overcoming the roadblocks they encountered in 1997 during their legal battle to formally adopt him. They went on to adopt a second baby, Madison and her half-sister Rosa, who lived in a group foster home through her early teens. Jon and Michael are parents to three children and three grandchildren, and have proven that you can be gay and have the American dream including a family, despite the enormous obstacles of homophobia and discrimination.

Debbie Russ is a mother of a transgender daughter and a long time resident of Mt. Olive. She is a Social Worker with an LSW and an advocate for mental health in adolescents.  She has done other speaking events at Morristown Memorial Hospital, and multiple private schools throughout the area. She is here as a parent to share her ongoing journey as a parent of a transgender youth. 

Gordon Sauer (He, His)is a retired NJ educator with over 40 years of experience, and works with a number of LGBTQ+ organizations including GLSEN (A national organization dedicated to making schools safe for LGBTQ+ students), SAGE (A national organization which supports LGBTQ+ older adults) and GAAMC (NJ’s Oldest LGBT organization). He lives with his husband of 27 years and enjoys music, being outdoors and having fun.

Mickey Suiter has been an LGBTQ community activist for nearly 50 years. In 1972, he and three friends founded the Gay Activist Alliance in Morris County (GAAMC). He represented GAAMC with the New Jersey Lesbian 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 New Jersey’s Law Against Discrimination to add sexual orientation to the protected categories. He started GAAMC’s Pride Guide, a resource directory for the community, in 1985. He volunteered with Garden State 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 and started an LGBTQ social group in their community.

And others to be announced.

Moderator: Roxbury Township Mayor Bob DeFillippo has more than 40 years of senior leadership experience in corporate communications, journalism, government and public policy.  As the Chief Communications Officer for Prudential Financial, Inc., he led the Global Communications Department and oversaw Prudential’s public relations and internal communications around the world. During that time, Bob led communications for the company’s historic transition from a mutual to a public company – one of the largest IPOs in the insurance industry. He also served as executive sponsor to Eagles -- Prudential's LGBTQ+ employee resource group, which introduced the company's first Ally program.  Bob currently serves as an adjunct professor at NYU's School of Professional Studies, where he lectures graduate students on Strategic Communications, Crisis Communications, and Critical Business Skills for Communicators.  

About GAAMC

GAAMC is a not-for-profit volunteer-run organization that provides social, educational, and outreach programs. GAAMC also offers opportunities for individuals to become politically active on issues related to the GLBTI community. Our intent is to maintain a positive, healthy, respectful and supportive environment in a safe space.

Register online or call the library at 973-584-2400.

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