FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Will Fight Discrimination In Face of Divisive Presidential Campaign” Anti-LGBT Actions
TRENTON: Ushering in a new era in the fight for equality and justice for lesbian gay bisexual and transgender (LGBT) individuals Garden State Equality today announced Christian Fuscarino as its new executive director. Fuscarino who GSE named after conducting an exhaustive national search ” laid out an ambitious agenda to fight discrimination in all forms.
“” 11-10-2016 16:08 11-10-2016 16:10
 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Will Fight Discrimination In Face of Divisive Presidential Campaign” Anti-LGBT Actions
TRENTON: Ushering in a new era in the fight for equality and justice for lesbian gay bisexual and transgender (LGBT) individuals Garden State Equality today announced Christian Fuscarino as its new executive director. Fuscarino who GSE named after conducting an exhaustive national search laid out an ambitious agenda to fight discrimination in all forms.
“Garden State Equality will be working night and day to ensure New Jersey does not fall victim to the discrimination and absurdities we are seeing from far too many states across the country †said Fuscarino. “We will not stand for intolerance in any form. Too many members of the LGBT community are discriminated against both because of their sexual orientation and the color of their skin and/or their gender. Garden State Equality will not turn a blind eye to this. We will represent and be representative of all LGBT individuals.â€
Fuscarino discussed how the rhetoric of some candidates in the 2016 presidential campaign is creating an atmosphere where discrimination is both accepted and even encouraged. He also referenced the recent anti-LGBT actions of North Carolina’s governor and Legislature as well as the public debate in New Jersey about the rights of transgender individuals as examples of the continuing struggles of the LGBT community.
â€With the increasingly inflammatory rhetoric we see in today’s political discourse it is even more important than ever that we have organizations like Garden State Equality on the front lines fighting on behalf of New Jersey’s LGBT community †said Senator Cory Booker. â€All people regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity deserve to be treated with compassion and respect. That is why I have been committed to fighting for LGBT rights from introducing comprehensive federal legislation to ban discrimination against LGBT Americans to condemning the use of conversion therapy to taking steps to oppose North Carolina’s recent move to legalize and institutionalize discrimination against the LGBT community. I applaud Christian for his tireless commitment to the LGBT community and I look forward to working with him in his new role as we strive towards liberty and justice for all.â€
“Christian has been a tireless advocate for LGBT rights for years and his efforts have advanced equality in New Jersey and throughout the country †said Congressman Frank Pallone Jr. (NJ-06). “Christian knows as well as anyone that while we have made tremendous progress in recent years we still have a great deal of work to do. Discriminatory laws in North Carolina and Mississippi remind us that the struggle for equality is an ongoing process and I know that Christian will help lead the fight against discrimination as Executive Director of Garden State Equality. I look forward to working with him so that all Americans regardless of race gender religion sexual orientation or gender identity are entitled to the same protections under the law.â€
“I want to join with the LGBT community and every advocate and supporter of equal rights in New Jersey in welcoming Christian Fuscarino as the new executive director of Garden State Equality. His skills and commitment will be a great asset to an organization that has distinguished itself in the cause of equal treatment and justice for everyone. As we are witnessing now in other states where discriminatory acts are being advanced and advocated for the fight against intolerance and prejudice is clearly far from over. We have made great progress in New Jersey marriage equality is an example of that and we will continue to fight for policies that provide equal protection under the law for everyone. I look forward to continuing to work with Garden State Equality and with Christian †said Senate President Steve Sweeney.
GSE will be working in the coming weeks and months to build broad based coalitions with all those who are facing discrimination. They will also work in a bi-partisan manner to ensure the rights of transgender individuals are protected in New Jersey.
“The path ahead for Garden State Equality lies not with our past accomplishments but with the relationships we can develop and the communities we can bring together to create change †added Fuscarino. “We will not be silent or complacent. We will not sit back and watch our brothers and sisters be they Muslim or African-American or transgender continue to fall victim to mass hysteria perpetuated by the ignorant. We will strive for true equality and justice for everyone by creating coalitions and partnerships with all who encounter discrimination in any form.â€
Christian Fuscarino has deep roots in New Jersey growing up in Belmar and spending much of his youth in and around Asbury Park. Christian’s advocacy in the LGBT community began over a decade ago with formal training through the Gay Lesbian Straight Education Network (GLSEN). As GLSEN’s Northeast Region Student Coordinator Fuscarino worked with high school Gay Straight Alliances (GSA) for six years. In 2007 he joined the Pride Connections Center of New Jersey as a program developer serving gay inner-city youth.
In 2013 Christian joined Bend the Arc: A Jewish Partnership for Justice as a digital strategist. Christian served as the Communications Director for the Educational Alliance for the last two years. Media outlets such as CBS News Sirius XM and Genre Magazine have featured Christian in groundbreaking stories. Hofstra University honored Christian an alum as their 2012 Man of the Year for his work developing a safe-campus space for LGBT students while earning his BA in digital media and LGBT studies.
Garden State Equality is New Jersey’s largest statewide advocacy and education organization for the lesbian gay bisexual and transgender community. In this post-marriage environment GSE’s main focuses are youth transgender people and seniors and our work on those issues is informed by racial economic and disability justice concerns. GSE is working on campaigns to address safe environments for youth improvement of health services that meet LGBT community needs ” and respectful treatment of seniors.