Former Congressman Adler dies at 51

[JackBeck]

Source: Courier Post

Former Congressman John Adler has died, state Sen. Paul A. Arlo, D-Bergen, said today.

Adler, 51, was hospitalized last month for heart surgery after a staph infection attacked the inner lining of his heart. He was said to be recovering at University of Pennsylvania Hospital in Philadelphia. The hospital has yet to confirm his death.

Adler, a freshman representative who was defeated in his re-election bid by former Eagle Jon Runyan, was hospitalized last month after contracting "staph bacterial endocarditis," according to a statement released at the time by Adler's law firm, Greenberg Traurig of Florham Park.

During the 2010 election, Adler often recounted losing his father to heart disease as a teenager.


Read more: http://www.courierpostonline.com/article/20110404/NEWS01/304050031/1006/Former-Congressman-Adler-dies-51

[keith the dem]

1. Damn, John was an old friend...

[JackBeck]

12. There's lots of love going around for John over at BlueJersey.

You should check out our local progressive website if you haven't already:

http://bluejersey.com/

[Charleston Chew]

2. Area 51?

[keith the dem]

3. John was the smartest most caring politician I've ever met.

When a mosque was proposed in his district and there was ugly hateful opposition, he was the first to come to the aid of the Muslim community. You can see him in the documentary "Talking Through Walls"
John was a brave leader.

[JackBeck]

8. John was a huge LGBT ally in both the NJ legislature and Congress.

Although we received some flack for endorsing his re-election from other progressive groups in NJ because of his vote against the health care reform legislation, as a state-wide LGBT organization we could not turn our back on such a staunch ally.

I'm not surprised to hear about his support for other disenfranchised communities.

[JI7]

4. very sad, that is too young and he has 4 sons left without a father

[angstlessk]

5. Either I am old or I think 51 is way to young to die...n/t

[Taverner]

6. 51?? That's way too young

[Travelman]

7. Jeez, what a shame.

Way, WAY too young.

RIP, Congressman.

[JackBeck]

9. Statement from Garden State Equality:

Dear Garden State Equality members:

Throughout the years, we've shared the joys and heartbreaks of activism - thankfully way more joys. Now I must share with you a heartbreak. This is brutal.

Congressman John Adler, who as Chairman of the state Senate Judiciary Committee partnered with Garden State Equality to author or coauthor many of the 212 LGBT civil rights laws enacted since our organization's founding in 2004, died today. He was 51. He had been in the hospital for the last month after contracting a staph infection. He leaves behind his wife Shelley, whom he met at Harvard Law School, and their four sons, Jeffrey, Alex, Andrew, and Oliver.

John Adler had a towering intellect, a heart without boundaries, a grace matched only by his wit, and a steely resolve to win equality for all who have faced discrimination. As Chairman of the state Senate Judiciary Committee until his election to the U.S. Congress in 2008, John was one of the most important champions of LGBT civil rights who has ever held public office in New Jersey, often teaming up with our Loretta Weinberg, who of course continues in the Senate today.

It is impossible to overstate John's importance as an all-time hero to our movement for equality. Basically all LGBT civil rights bills in New Jersey go through the Senate Judiciary Committee. As Chairman of that Committee, John was not only the gatekeeper of our future, but also the successful guarantor. With every ounce of enormous integrity, passion and wise strategy, John fought for us as if we were his own brothers and sisters. He used his enormous power to face down anyone who stood in the way of our progress.

Under John Adler's committee chairmanship and through his prime sponsorship of every LGBT civil rights bill during his time in the state Senate, New Jersey won everything from an domestic partnership law to a civil unions law to fully inclusive anti-discrimination and hate crimes laws encompassing protection based on sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression. When John voted for the civil unions bill in 2006, he publicly stated he was holding his nose in doing so - that he believed only marriage equality meets the constitutional standard of equal protection under law. Prophetically, even before the civil union law took effect, John told us the civil union law would prove problematic in implementation and not provide equality.

John was unafraid to stare down even traditional allies when he believed they were selling out equality. When the NJEA tried to water down the transgender equality bill against the wishes of Garden State Equality and our sister organization, the Gender Rights Advocacy Association of New Jersey, John said, "Don't worry, I'm not going to let it happen." When the Corzine Administration astonishingly presented a package of judges that included a vicious anti-LGBT right-winger in exchange for the Republicans' assent to Democratic picks for the bench, John said, "No way am I letting that homophobe through." In those words.

And when news broke one cold fall day in 2005 about a dying police lieutenant named Laurel Hester denied the right to pass along her death benefits to her partner - because they were a same-sex couple whose relationship the Ocean County freeholders would not recognize - the first call I got from a public official was from John Adler. I remember John's words to me as if he said them yesterday. "Steven, this is obscene. What are we doing about it? I'll meet you today. I'll cancel whatever else I have."

Friends, I weep as I write those words and the memories come rushing forth. I loved John Adler. Thousands of us at Garden State Equality and across activism loved him. If emptiness can feel heavy, we are searingly burdened by its weight today.

May God bless the memory of John Adler, and may God provide comfort to his wonderful wife and sons. As generations live the benefits of John Adler's profoundly impactful work, the legacy of his life will last forever.

B'Shalom, Steven Goldstein, Chair of Garden State Equality

Baruch Dayan HaEmet

[keith the dem]

10. Thank you for posting this

I didn't know this about John, but it doesn't suprise me.

My hero is gone.

Maybe you can post this as it's own thread? Please.

[JackBeck]

11. I posted it in the GLBT Forum.

(Full disclosure: I'm Vice Chair of Garden State Equality)

Although my work GSE them started after John had already been elected to Congress, there was friction between NJ progressive organizations when we endorsed him for re-election. While he did vote against health care reform, his LGBT record was stellar and as a state-wide LGBT organization, we could not let the mid-term election pass without coming out with an endorsement.