Trenton, New Jersey. New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy reminds us that the state is a sanctuary state for transgender people as the national conversation around gender transition and rights intensifies.
New Jersey’s position as a safe haven for gender-affirming healthcare was cemented last year when Governor Phil Murphy signed an executive order that provides legal safeguards for patients, healthcare professionals, and anyone assisting people seeking care in the state.
Congresswoman Nancy Mace’s proposal to prohibit transgender biological males from using women’s toilets on Capitol Hill has sparked heated debate across the country. This followed the election of Sarah McBride, a transgender woman from Delaware, as the nation’s first transgender congresswoman.
Alongside LGBTQIA+ advocacy organizations, Executive Order No. 326 was announced, directing all state agencies to protect access to gender-affirming care for anybody in New Jersey, including visitors from jurisdictions with restrictive legislation. Additionally, state participation in investigations or extraditions related to giving or receiving care that is permitted in New Jersey is prohibited under the order.
Governor Murphy stated, “We are seeing attacks across the country, spearheaded by some states, that aim to threaten the safety, equality, and dignity of the LGBTQIA+ community, particularly transgender and non-binary youth.” By establishing New Jersey as a safe haven, we will continue to defend these values and advocate for everyone’s freedom to live freely and authentically.
In the United States, where several states have limited access to gender-affirming care, especially for minors, the directive seeks to combat an increasing tide of anti-trans legislation. The legislation in New Jersey guarantees that patients, healthcare professionals, and those helping others obtain gender-affirming services—like hormone therapy, puberty blockers, and other medical treatments—are all protected by the law.
In order to safeguard persons visiting or living in New Jersey, the policy also forbids extraditing people from the state to places where providing such care is illegal or punishable by law. Executive authorities have been directed to take action within their purview to guarantee complete protection for people and organizations engaged in gender-affirming medical care.
Murphy was accompanied at the signing by LGBTQIA+ activists and advocates from Garden State Equality and Bridges4Life, who praised the state’s proactive approach. At a time when transgender and non-binary persons are being attacked overseas, this step reaffirms New Jersey’s commitment to equality and decency for all, according to one representative.
As the national conversation over LGBTQIA+ rights heats up, New Jersey’s action puts it in line with other states like California and Minnesota in creating sanctuary protections for gender-affirming care.
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