Emails for state legislators are in this format:
SenLastname@njleg.org for Senators (for example, SenWeinberg@njleg.org)
AsmLastname@njleg.org for Assemblymen (for example, AsmGreenwald@njleg.org)
AswLastname@njleg.org for Assemblywomen (for example, AswLampitt@njleg.org)
With these exceptions:
SenBSmith@njleg.org for Senator Bob Smith of Legislative District 17 (include the first initial B)
SenTKean@njleg.org for Senator Tom Kean, Jr. of Legislative District 21 (include the first initial T)
AswWatsonColeman@njleg.org for Assemblywoman Bonnie Watson Coleman of Legislative District 15
AswVainieriHuttle@njleg.org for Assemblywoman Valerie Vainieri Huttle of Legislative District 37
Rather than post a sample email to legislators here, we’d like to provide you a menu of points which you can use and expand upon to make your email your own. A personal email is more effective with legislative offices than sending them a generic letter.
An email to legislators should have four parts.
The subject line of your email. It depends on whether you want to express your view, or both express your view and seek a meeting. If you just want to express your view, the subject line should be: I’m a constituent and I support marriage equality. If you want both to express your view and seek a meeting, the subject line should be: I’m a constituent and I seek a meeting.
In the first paragraph, introduce yourself. You can include any combination of these points or any other points that describe you, immediately followed by the short statements that you support marriage equality and would like to meet the legislator.
- I am a constituent of yours who lives (or works) in (city or town). I support marriage equality.
- I am a constituent of yours who lives (or works) in (city or town). I support marriage equality, and I would like to meet with you to talk about it.
- I am a leader in so-and-so organization which supports marriage equality. I would like to meet with you.
- I am a reverend/minister/pastor/rabbi/other clergy member. I support marriage equality, and I would like to meet with you to talk about it.
- I am the parent, other relative or friend of a child who is gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender. I support marriage equality.
- I am the parent, other relative or friend of a child who is gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender. I support marriage equality, and I would like to meet with you to talk about it.
- I’m in a civil union partnership and it doesn’t provide the equality marriage would. I support marriage equality.
- I’m in a civil union partnership and it doesn’t provide the equality marriage would. I support marriage equality, and I would like to meet with you to talk about it.
- I’m straight and I support marriage equality because I believe in equality for everyone. I would like to meet with you.
In the second/middle paragraphs, provide details on why you support marriage equality. For some of you, these details are personal. Wherever possible, be personal. Try to be as personally moving as possible. You might be a civil union couple whose civil union has not been recognized by a hospital or employer. You might be a parent, other relative or friend who cares so much about an LGBT person who wants to get married. You might be a straight person with great conviction about the need for equality. And so on.
You may want to include one or any combination of these points, or others that come to mind:
- The civil union law hasn’t worked to provide equality. Hospitals and employers in New Jersey have not respected civil unions like they would respect marriage.
- The civil union law hurts children, because it gives their families a separate and stigmatizing label.
- The failure of the civil union law hurts women disproportionately, given that two-thirds of all civil union couples in New Jersey are women couples.
- The failure of the civil union law hurts African-Americans/Latinos/other people of color disproportionately, compounding the discrimination people of color already face.
- Given the current economic crisis, now is exactly the time for marriage equality, which will attract $248 million in tourism and weddings to New Jersey, according to a recent UCLA study.
- Many different faiths support marriage equality, including mine.
- As a constituent, I thank you for your time and would appreciate your support for marriage equality.
- As a constituent who supports marriage equality, I would like to meet with you to talk about it. You may reach me at cell (your cell number here).
- As someone who believes in equality for all, I thank you for your time and would appreciate your support for marriage equality.
- As someone who believes in equality for all, I support marriage equality and would like to meet with you to talk about it. You may reach me at cell (your cell number here).
- As someone in a civil union/as a parent/as a clergy member, etc, I thank you for your time and would appreciate your support for marriage equality.
- As someone in a civil union/as a parent/as a clergy member, etc, I support marriage equality and would like to meet with you to talk about it. You may reach me at cell (your cell number here).
You need not wait to hear back from the legislator’s office. Again, we recommend that you call the legislator’s office two business days later to follow up on your email.
Click here to find your legislators.
