TRENTON, N.J. — As the gender transformation and rights debate heats up on the national stage, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy reminds us that New Jersey is a transgender sanctuary state.
Last year, Governor Phil Murphy signed an executive order solidifying New Jersey’s status as a safe haven for gender-affirming health care, offering legal protections to patients, providers, and those aiding individuals seeking care in the state.
Rhetoric nationwide is heating up after Congresswoman Nancy Mace moved to ban transgendered biological males from using women’s restrooms on Capitol Hill. This came after Delaware transgendered woman Sarah McBride became the first transgendered congressperson in American history.
Executive Order No. 326, announced alongside LGBTQIA+ advocacy groups, directs all state agencies to safeguard access to gender-affirming care for individuals in New Jersey, including non-residents traveling from states with restrictive laws. The order also bars state cooperation with investigations or extraditions tied to providing or receiving care that is legal in New Jersey.
“Across the nation, we are witnessing attacks led by certain states that seek to undermine the equality, dignity, and safety of the LGBTQIA+ community, especially transgender and non-binary youth,” said Governor Murphy. “We will continue to uphold these principles in New Jersey and support every person’s right to live freely and authentically by making our state a safe haven.”
The order aims to counteract a growing wave of anti-trans legislation across the United States, where numerous states have restricted access to gender-affirming care, particularly for minors. New Jersey’s measure ensures that legal protections extend to health care providers, patients, and individuals assisting others in accessing gender-affirming services, such as hormone therapy, puberty blockers, and other medical treatments.
The policy also prohibits extraditing individuals from New Jersey to states where such care is criminalized or penalized, protecting those traveling to or residing in New Jersey. Executive agencies have been instructed to pursue measures within their authority to ensure full protection for individuals and entities involved in gender-affirming health care.
Advocates from Garden State Equality and Bridges4Life, as well as LGBTQIA+ activists, joined Murphy at the signing, praising the state’s proactive stance. “This action affirms New Jersey’s commitment to equality and dignity for all, particularly at a time when transgender and non-binary people are under attack elsewhere,” one representative said.
New Jersey’s move aligns it with other states like California and Minnesota in establishing sanctuary protections for gender-affirming care as the national debate over LGBTQIA+ rights intensifies.