Steven Goldstein, LGBT Civil Rights Leader, to be Honored for Pioneering Anti-Bullying Work

Steven Goldstein, associate chancellor of external relations at Rutgers University, Newark and a nationally known LGBT civil rights leader who founded Garden State Equality in 2004 and led the organization until joining Rutgers in January 2013, is being honored Saturday, April 6 at 6 pm – along with the legendary civil rights leader, U.S. Congressman John Lewis of Georgia – by National Stop the Violence at its “Celebration of Hope Gala” at the Westin Hotel in Mount Laurel, New Jersey.   

National Stop the Violence is honoring Goldstein not only for his many civil rights achievements, but specifically for his work at Garden State Equality on behalf of bullied students.  

Goldstein was a driving force behind New Jersey’s Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights, the law enacted in January 2011 shortly after the tragic passing of Rutgers student Tyler Clementi.   The New York Times has called the law “the nation’s toughest law against bullying and harassment in schools.”

As the founding chair and CEO of Garden State Equality, Goldstein led an organization that won the enactment of 213 LGBT civil rights laws at the state, national and local levels.  Several of the laws were models for states across the country that went on to enact similar laws of their own. 

Goldstein, a resident of Teaneck, N.J.,  was featured in the film that won the Academy Award® for best short documentary in 2008, “Freeheld,” chronicling Garden State Equality’s campaign on the streets to win equality for a dying police officer denied the right to give her partner her death benefits.

“Steven Goldstein is an inspiration to millions of people who owe him their strides in civil rights, and to thousands of students in New Jersey who are safer today because of his work.” said Dr. Stephne' R. Coney, founder of National Stop the Violence. 

“Rutgers-Newark is lucky to have him,” she added.

In addition to Goldstein and Congressman Lewis, other honorees for the April 6 event include the late Rosa Parks.