TRENTON, NJ — The state Assembly is set to vote on a critical bill to shield New Jersey’s providers of reproductive and transgender healthcare from prosecution by other states and the federal government on Thursday, June 11.

A broad coalition of LGBTQ+ and reproductive rights organizations and advocates is rallying to call on them to pass this bill, and media are invited to cover this historic vote to protect bodily autonomy in New Jersey.

The bill will:

• Expand New Jersey's existing protections, ensuring that anyone providing or accessing reproductive or gender-affirming care in New Jersey is protected from legal attacks;
• Re-affirm the safety and security of patients and providers by ensuring unhindered access to reproductive health care facilities in New Jersey; and
• Protect the unique privacy needs for reproductive and gender-affirming care providers by shielding them from professional retaliation and safeguarding their data.

Logistics Information:

Date: Thursday, June 11

Start Time Window: 9am-12pm* (to be confirmed the week before)

Location: New Jersey Statehouse Annex, 131-137 W State St, Trenton, NJ

Partnering Organizations

• Garden State Equality
• Transgender Rights Coalition-NJ (TRC-NJ)
• NJCRI (North Jersey Community Research Initiative)
• United Progressive Democrats
• House of Hearts Network Foundation
• WADEIn New Jersey
• EDGE NJ
• League of Women Voters THRIVE Coalition

Lauren Albrecht, Senior Director of Advocacy & Organizing at Garden State Equality:

“We stand firmly with patients and providers in receiving and providing quality, safe, legally protected healthcare in New Jersey — and we know New Jersey does, too. Threats against providers of these critical forms of healthcare across the country will not stop anytime soon. That's why the Legislature needs to pass this bill to shield them from unacceptable criminalization and intimidation.”

Jane Buchanan, parent and advocate, Transgender Rights Coalition of New Jersey:

“At its core, this bill is about humanity and established NJ law: ensuring that every person, regardless of ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation or gender is treated with dignity and has the autonomy to make healthcare decisions. It affirms that families, in consultation with trusted healthcare providers, are empowered to make medical decisions for their children and themselves without government interference. It protects the fundamental rights of NJ healthcare providers to treat patients without fear of reprisal from other states or federal entities which do not share our values.”
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Garden State Equality, the largest LGBTQ+ advocacy organization in New Jersey, lifts up the diverse voices of LGBTQ+ communities through education, advocacy, and wellness to advance the movement for equality in New Jersey and nationally.