McGreevey Lands 'Pride of Essex' Award, Praises from 'The Wire' Cast

The award was conferred by the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Questioning Advisory Board of Essex County and by Essex County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo.

“I’d like to say thank you for your understanding that the best of human nature is built in kindness, is built in understanding, is built in human decency,” McGreevey said.

“I want to thank you for being a county that does something like this not just for the LGBTQ community but for every marginal community.” 

Two years into his term, in August 2004, McGreevey called a press conference to announce his resignation and also to proclaim that he is a “gay American.” 

The admission was prompted by an impending sexual harassment lawsuit brought by Golan Cipel, whom McGreevey had appointed to be the New Jersey homeland security advisor.

McGreevey’s 2002 decision to hire Cipel, an Israeli with little national security experience, immediately raised questions in the press and rekindled rumors about the then-married governor’s true sexual orientation.

The 55-year-old McGreevey, who’s grayer but otherwise looks much the same as he did when he left the governor’s office, has since entered divinity school, joined the Episcopal church, and now counsels female prison inmates in Hudson County and Newark. 

His post-gubernatorial career is the subject of a recent documentary, “Fall to Grace.”

During the ceremony, McGreevey spoke about the difficulty he experienced as a closeted gay man, recalling how every institution he encountered during his youth told him his lifestyle was immoral.

“I remember growing up thinking that being gay was horribly wrong. I’d got to the library and homosexuality would be described in books as ‘deviance’....the church that I loved condemns it and says it’s worthy of hell. And you believe that.”

Among the guests Monday were Michael K. Williams, who played the landmark gay gangster Omar on the HBO crime drama The Wire, and his fellow castmate, Felicia "Snoop" Pearson, who is herself gay.

Both commended McGreevey on his new career.

Also recognized Monday was Christine Quinn, a candidate for mayor of New York City and the current city council president, who married her partner, attorney and Newark native Kim Catullo, last year. DiVincenzo is a longtime friend of the couple.

Quinn spoke about New Jersey’s recent but unsuccessful attempt to pass legislation that would have legalized gay marriage, legislation that was vetoed by Gov. Chris Christie.

“I just want you to know how inspired we are by your perseverance,” Quinn said.

Not mentioned during the ceremony was DiVncenzo’s endorsement last week of Christie's re-election bid, a move that angered many of DiVincenzo's fellow Democrats and those affiliated with progressive causes.

A small group of protesters outside the Leroy Smith building accused the county executive of hypocrisy for hosting a gay pride event after supporting the governor who defeated marriage equality legislation.

DiVincenzo, however, pointed to his administration’s 2007 decision to extend benefits to same-sex partners of county employees, his support for the formation in 2011 of Essex County’s LGBTQ advisory board, as well as his own personal support for marriage equality.

“Do I agree with everything [Christie] does? No,” DiVincenzo said. “But my record speaks for itself.”