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In Maplewood, New Jersey on Saturday, July 10, 2004 -- the first day New Jersey same-sex couples register as domestic partners -- Jersey Pride, Inc. is sponsoring a statewide LGBTI festival featuring entertainment, food vendors, organization booths, activities for kids and so much more. It's a Saturday during which the Township of Maplewood will be registering couples as domestic partners who live ANYWHERE in New Jersey!

The welcoming ceremony is at 10:00 am on Saturday, July 10, 2004 at Maplewood Town Hall, 574 Valley Street. It will be followed all day, until 5:00 pm, by on-site domestic-partner registration and the outdoor summer festival at Maplewood Memorial Park. 10 PIECES OF INFORMATION:

1. You can register on any weekday after Saturday, July 10th of course, but this allows you not to take time off.

2. Couples from anywhere in the state can register in Maplewood on Saturday, July 10th, or in any municipality on any weekday day thereafter. The new domestic partnership law does not require New Jersey couples to register in the town in which they live.

3. No matter when and where couples register, you will have to bring state-mandated documentation and pay a $28 application fee. Visit the state domestic-partnership website at http://www.state.nj.us/health/vital/dp.pdf for these and other details.

4. Notaries will be on site in Maplewood throughout Saturday, July 10th. They will notarize your applications free of charge. Domestic-partnership applications must be notarized.

5. You do NOT need to provide advance notice that you intend to come to Maplewood on Saturday, July 10th to domestic-partner. Just show up, like you'd just show up at your city or town hall on any weekday to domestic-partner.

6. If Sabbath observance precludes you from registering on Saturday, July 10th, please let us know. You may also sign and notarize the application before that Saturday and bring it with you. And don't forget: After Saturday, July 10th, you may register on any weekday in any New Jersey municipality.

7. Several news organizations are interested in talking to domestic-partnering couples in advance. If you'd like to participate, please let me, Steven Goldstein, know, and specify the town you live in. Goldstein@AttentionAmerica.com or cell (917) 449-8918.

8. Our community's endless gratitude -- worthy of an Olympic medal, truly -- goes to those who are making this day possible. Jersey Pride, Inc., heroic organizers of the annual Jersey Pride weekend that's one of the country's best, is producing this grand festival, too! And for getting Maplewood registrars to work on a Saturday, enormous thanks go to the Township of Maplewood and Mayor Fred Profeta, Rainbow Families of Maplewood/South Orange, and the New Jersey Lesbian and Gay Coalition.

9. Event organizers will provide each registering couple with a souvenir first day certificate.

10. Please forward this e-mail to everyone you know: Your friends, family, colleagues and members of your organization and/or congregation. What better momentum for LGBTI equal rights than for all of them to see the love of lesbian and gay couples across the state?!!

See you on Saturday, July 10th!

All best,

Steven Goldstein

with Garden State Equality

Goldstein@AttentionAmerica.com

Cell (917) 449-8918