Murphy declines chance to criticize Ciattarelli

By Ashley Gallagher, July 19 2021 5:28 pm

Gov. Phil Murphy sidestepped a chance to criticize rival Jack Ciattarelli’s comment about LGBTQ+ school curriculum on Monday, saying he didn’t want to get into a politically charged discussion.

He says that the last thing he wants to do is divide the state even more and push them into an “us vs. them” mentality.

The Gothamist first reported that Ciattarelli said he does not believe in teaching gender identification, sexual orientation and sodomy to children. He wants to roll back the LGBTQ+ curriculum because he says that is a parent’s job and not a school district’s.

Murphy says, “I am proud beyond words that New Jersey is a beacon in terms of the LGBTQIA+ community including our transparency in education and telling the whole truth and nothing but the truth about that community.”

He denounced the use of “words that everyone knows are third rail words” and called for New Jersey to say when enough is enough.