“The Attorney General’s Office is charged with furthering justice in New Jersey, and yet for more than three decades, our office fell far short,” Grewal said. Grewal’s apology for past practices by the state Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control will be accompanied by an order to vacate 126 enforcement actions that had suspended or revoked liquor licenses as a result of their serving LGBTQ+ patrons. “For too many years, New Jersey failed to live up to its professed values of diversity, inclusion, and respect as it relates to our LGBTQ+ community,” said Governor Phil Murphy. “While we cannot undo the injustices of the past, today’s action by Attorney General Grewal demonstrates our commitment to recognizing the harms that have been suffered and acting to provide support to New Jersey’s LGBTQ+ residents.
New Jersey has issued a formal apology for the systemic targeting of gay bars by the state attorney general’s office between 19.Īttorney General Gurbir Grewal will visit the now-shuttered Paddock Bar in Asbury Park tonight to apologize at an event with Garden State Equality, local officials, and a woman who owned an LGBTQ bar in the 1970s.
