Garden State Equality

Sports, especially for young people, have always been an avenue to be part of something bigger. Whether it’s through school, local leagues, or pickup games with friends, sports are one of the simplest, most accessible ways for all of us to find community, to be part of a team. And, they teach us from a young age that when we work hard and work together, we win. That’s why these cases, and fighting for the T in our Team, is so important today.

While the issues in these cases are focused on the right of trans girls to play sports with their friends, the court risks further empowering a national and coordinated effort to push trans and gender diverse people out of public life altogether and, in the process, potentially undermining civil rights protections for all LGBTQ+ people. And as we know, extremist politicians never stop at stripping lived and legal equality away from one group. The laws at issue limit the freedom of everyone to be ourselves. They’ve already led to the harassment of non-trans and intersex athletes, particularly Black women and girls, and normalize that kind of unacceptable treatment off the field. No matter our backgrounds, we’re all on the same team, and when we fight as a team, we win as one, too.

Today, #SCOTUS is hearing arguments in 2 cases confirming what we’ve always known: sports, like #trans people’s rights, are more than a game.

Sports teach us when we work together, we win. That’s why these cases, and fighting for the T in our Team, is so important today.

#NJ #LGBTQ #NewJersey

This law is the result of consistent collaboration with community members, pharmacists, policy experts, and legislative partners. Thank you to Hyacinth, @equalityfed.bsky.social, @eltonjohnaidsfoundation.org, New Jersey Pharmacists Assoc. ,@vingopal.bsky.social, Asw. Peterpaul, and many more!

WIN: Today, Gov. Murphy signed into law our bill making the HIV medications PrEP and PEP more accessible in New Jersey. The law allows pharmacists to dispense PrEP and PEP directly to those who need them and mandates prescription benefits coverage of both medications. This is important because more people will be able to get these critical prevention measures who wouldn’t have otherwise.

This legislation, aligned with the Governor’s Strategic Plan to End HIV, is a critical step in significantly reducing HIV new-transmission rates in our state, which still reaches about 1,000 new cases per year. This law is the result of intensive and coordinated collaboration with people who take or have taken PrEP and PEP, pharmacists, and policy experts from our partners at Hyacinth, Equality Federation, Elton John AIDS Foundation, New Jersey Pharmacy Association, and many others.

With these partners, and our legislative sponsors Sen. Gopal and Asw. Peterpaul, we‘ve brought to life an innovative bill that will get New Jerseyans’ convenient access to pre- and post-exposure prophylaxis while also ensuring our providers and pharmacies are reimbursed for their product, expertise, and labor. By bringing together such a diverse array of stakeholders, we’re confident the legislation will succeed in its additional aim of overcoming some of the challenges that other states have seen in passing and implementing similar measures.

WIN: Today, @govmurphy.bsky.social signed into law our bill making the HIV medications PrEP and PEP more accessible in New Jersey.

This is important because more people will be able to get these critical prevention measures who wouldn’t have otherwise.

#HIV #NewJersey #PrEP

With the help of our members, we were able to work with our colleagues in #HIV policy and pharmaceuticals to create an innovative approach to expanding access to life-saving medication.

Take action to help this bill cross the finish line >> gse.lgbt/prep

#NJ #LGBTQ

BREAKING: The Assembly just unanimously voted "YES" on a bill (A6293) to expand access to the life-saving #HIV medications #PrEP and #PEP in #NewJersey!

Now it's time for Governor Murphy to sign this bill into law.

Tell him now >> gse.lgbt/prep

#NJ #LGBTQ

We respect the courts and will allow that process to be handled by them. We will continue our important work with our acting Executive Director.

Garden State Equality takes allegations against our staff seriously and we oppose violence of any kind. When we learned about the charge against Mr. Fuscarino, we immediately placed him on leave.

Statement on Turning Point USA, Education Secretary Linda McMahon assembly at Colts Neck middle school | Garden State Equality On Tuesday, December 2, the superintendent of Colts Neck Township Schools, Dr. MaryJane Garibay, shared a letter with families at Cedar Drive Middle School informing them that U.S. Education Secretary...

Read our full statement on the situation here: www.gardenstateequality.org/statement-on...

Furthermore, we are calling on Colts Neck Township Schools to cancel the visit and apologize to the families of Cedar Drive students for inviting Sec. McMahon and Turning Point USA’s division and prejudice into their school.

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We demand that the Education Department stop using taxpayer dollars to promote propaganda and bigotry in our classrooms.

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For Colts Neck Township Schools, a district committed to upholding "parental rights," to roll out the red carpet for a white-washed, sanitized, and bigoted "civics" tour with little notice is deeply hypocritical.

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Inviting radical organizations like Turning Point USA and individuals committed to dismantling equitable public education like Education Sec. Linda McMahon to give an assembly is neither "meaningful" nor "nonpartisan." It is dangerous and unethical.

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#LGBTQ #NewJersey #NJ #ColtsNeck

Over a purple background with rubber duckies: "People's Lame Duck Agenda"

New Jerseyans are clear: they will fight back against authoritarianism and want elected officials who will do the same.

Tell your lawmakers to pass the People’s Agenda this lame duck session.

Take action now: action.aclu.org/send-message...

#United4Justice #PeoplesAgenda #LameDuck

Text reads, "Truthtelling Webinar Series: Queer Health. July 31, 6 pm to 7:30 pm. Debunking myths about detransition." The background is a blue, purple, and pink gradient, with a rainbow stripe across the top. Next to the event name is a photograph of two people lying on a trans flag in the grass.

Join us for the first part of our Truthtelling webinar series, which digs into the misinformation shaping how trans and queer people experience health and healthcare. Our first session will cover the myths surrounding detransition.

Sign up at gse.lgbt/truthtelling!

Join Garden State Equality at the Good Trouble Lives on Rally & March! · Garden State Equality Good Trouble Lives On is a national day of nonviolent action to respond to the attacks posed on our civil and human rights by the Trump administration and to remind them that in America, the power lie...

This Thursday, July 17—the anniversary of Congressman John Lewis' passing—we're joining a national day of nonviolent action called Good Trouble Lives On. Keep Congressman Lewis' legacy alive by marching with us at the rally & march in Newark!

Register to join us at gse.lgbt/goodtrouble ✊

In a time when rights, families, and futures are under attack, I’m proud to have @gardenstateequality.org Action Fund, New Jersey’s largest LGBTQ+ advocacy organization, in my corner.

Together we’ll continue to defend dignity, equality, and justice for all New Jerseyans.

Text reads, "July 2025 Passport Update," followed by the contents of the caption. The background is an image of a U.S. passport partially tucked into the pocket of a bag, colorized in pale blue. The top and bottom borders of the graphic feature the colors of the progress pride flag.

GOOD NEWS: After last month's court order in Orr v. Trump, the State Department is now required to issue passports to nonbinary and trans people with correct gender markers, and has finally issued guidance on how to do so.

Read our full July passport update at gse.lgbt/passports.

A dark blue graphic with white and light blue text. The central image features rows of PrEP pills in shades of blue.Text reads: "2-minute action / link in bio. Tell your legislators: expand access to PrEP & PEP! A bill that would improve access to HIV prophylaxis is headed to the NJ Senate floor—now we need it to move in the Assembly! Send a message to your legislators asking them to SUPPORT S2019/A3089."

Great news: A bill that would improve access to PrEP and PEP passed out of the NJ Senate Budget Committee last week!⁠
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Now we need it to move in the Assembly—help make that happen by using our simple tool to send a message to your legislators.⁠

📨 gse.lgbt/prep

Proud and Free: United for Trans Power. Saturday, June 21. 10:30am. Asbury Park Post Office, 801 Bangs Ave, Asbury Park, NJ 07712. Garden State Equality. https://gse.lgbt/skrmetti

#ProudAndFree: #UnitedForTransPower

In response to #Skrmetti, we’re gathering in #AsburyPark this Saturday, 6/21 to show up for trans people and say: trans rights are not up for debate!

RSVP and more info >> gse.lgbt/skrmetti

#ProudAndFreeRally #TransRights #SCOTUS #NJ #NewJersey #JerseyShore

What the Supreme Court's decision in Skrmetti means for New Jersey | Garden State Equality Today, the Supreme Court of the United States failed trans youth by upholding Tennessee’s cruel and discriminatory ban on transition-related healthcare for youth. The 6-3 decision means extremist stat...

And keep an eye on our social media and our website for updates on more ways you can join the fight: gse.lgbt/skrmetti

Jersey for Trans Healthcare | Garden State Equality This campaign is spearheaded by Garden State Equality in coalition with leading New Jersey reproductive freedom organizations. The Supreme Court of the United States has allowed attacks on trans youth...

⁠Take action now: visit jerseytrans.care to contact your legislators and demand they pass strong legal protections for trans healthcare today, so we can continue to be a shield state in an increasingly anti-trans nation.⁠

The Supreme Court failed trans youth today. But right now, New Jersey is still a sanctuary for trans healthcare. Let's keep it that way. Jersey for Trans Healthcare

Today, the Supreme Court of the United States failed trans youth by upholding Tennessee’s cruel and discriminatory ban on transition-related healthcare for youth.⁠
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❗ Important: right now, New Jersey is still a sanctuary for trans healthcare.⁠

At the heart of every injustice like today’s are real people — stripped of dignity, trapped by a system that punishes them for who they are, where they’re from, and the circumstances they face. We cannot and will not sit by without speaking out against the vulgar injustice that happened in Newark today. The United States justice system is supposed to guarantee due process, yet instead we are watching people detained without hearings, denied the right to present their case, and shipped to other countries without ever seeing a courtroom.

The Trump administration is weaponizing the system to carry out mass detentions and deportations that violate both U.S. and international law. It is grotesque to demand obedience to laws that are being broken by those in power themselves. This is the same system the Trump administration is using to persecute and erase transgender and gender diverse people. The struggle for immigrant and human rights is the same for LGBTQ+ rights. We recognize the desperation and humanity of the four individuals who escaped — and we refuse to let this moment pass without demanding accountability for the inhumane conditions that led to this crisis. This is not justice. This is cruelty disguised as policy.

Statement from Garden State Equality on the Newark Detention Center Disturbance:

A blurred photo of the stage at Asbury Lanes, the event venue, overlaid by a pink and purple gradient. From the top, text reads: "This week! The Equality Ball. Friday, May 30, 2025. Asbury Lanes. Last chance to buy tickets!"

It's the moment we've all been waiting for: the Equality Ball is THIS WEEK! Now's your last chance to buy tickets, so don't wait—get your tickets now at gse.lgbt/ball25 💃

A graphic with a pink and purple gradient over a blurred image of Asbury Lanes, the event venue. White text reads: "Don't miss these fabulous entertainers at The Equality Ball: Honey Davenport, Crystal Envy, Tiger James. Friday, May 30, 2025, Asbury Lanes." In the middle of the graphic are circular photos of the listed performers.

How better to kick off Pride Month than joining us, drag queens Honey Davenport and Crystal Envy, and singer Tiger James at the Equality Ball next Friday, May 30? There's only one week left to buy tickets, so don't wait: gse.lgbt/ball25

A graphic with a pink and purple gradient over a blurred image of Asbury Lanes, the event venue. White text reads: "Join Gov. Phil Murphy and Dominique Jackson at the Equality Ball. Friday, May 30, 2025, Asbury Lanes." Staggered in the center of the image are circular photos of Gov. Murphy and Dominique Jackson.

Join honoree @govmurphy.bsky.social and special guest Dominique Jackson in celebrating our work at the Equality Ball on Friday, May 30!

There are only 9️⃣ days left to purchase tickets for our largest annual fundraiser, so don't wait!

Buy tickets now: gse.lgbt/ball25

Trump’s plan to cut suicide hotline funding has ‘lethal consequences’ | NJ Spotlight News Advocates warn of harm to LGBTQ+ who need mental health support

“There’s no doubt that there will be even more mental health challenges that we’re not prepared to tackle without 988.” — Natalie Hernandez @gardenstateequality.org

@trevorproject.bsky.social
@njspotlightnews.org

www.njspotlightnews.org/2025/05/trum...

Majority Leader Teresa Ruiz joined @gardenstateequality.org to celebrate their new historic headquarters in the heart of Asbury Park with a Cornerstone of Gratitude Plaque Dedication Ceremony.

"This building will lend cover, hope - a space of safety when someone doesn't know where they belong."

🚨 FLASH SALE ALERT 🚨
The Equality at Work Symposium is this Friday 4/11, and we're running a flash sale until 11:59 pm tomorrow (4/8)!

Get your discounted tickets and connect with others looking to make their workplaces more inclusive, equitable, diverse, and accessible: gse.lgbt/work25flash ✨

A pale blue background depicting an office building. Text at the top reads, "Equality at Work Symposium Keynote Panel." The text is followed by a grid of six photos of the panelists, followed by their names and the registration link.

We're excited to announce our keynote panel for Equality at Work, our annual inclusivity, diversity, equity, and accessibility symposium on 4/11! Our headliners are 6 Black & Brown queer & allied women working to advance inclusion across industries.

Register for Equality at Work ➡ gse.lgbt/work25