Jersey for Trans Healthcare | Garden State Equality

This campaign is spearheaded by Garden State Equality in coalition with leading New Jersey reproductive freedom organizations.

Attacks on trans communities are spreading nationwide.

Right now, New Jersey is still a sanctuary for trans healthcare. Let’s keep it that way.

Resist federal attacks against medically necessary, lifesaving gender-affirming healthcare.

Tell our lawmakers to pass the Reproductive Freedom & Health Equity Bill Package immediately.

PROTECTING TRANS NEW JERSEYANS

The Reproductive Freedom and Health Equity bill package, which was introduced in the summer of 2024, contains nine bills that would build on New Jersey’s existing healthcare protections.

Gender-affirming care is best-practice, medically necessary healthcare supported by all major medical associations. It improves mental health and quality of life, and is often lifesaving for those who can access it.

New Jersey has many protections in place, such as Gov. Murphy’s executive order making New Jersey a safe haven for gender-affirming healthcare—but many of them are not codified in law, and could be overturned after this year’s gubernatorial election or upon a single court decision.

Trans people are disproportionately likely to face barriers to healthcare.

It’s crucial that protecting access to gender-affirming care be included in this bill package.

0 %

of trans adults had a negative experience related to being trans while seeking healthcare in the past year, like being refused care or physically mistreated.

0 %

of trans adults were denied coverage for gender-affirming healthcare or denied coverage for routine care due to being trans in the past year,

Source: 2022 U.S. Trans Survey

THE THREATS

Our trans community deserves healthy lives with full bodily autonomy, but the current presidential administration and Supreme Court threaten medically necessary, lifesaving gender-affirming healthcare for trans people.

In U.S. v. Skrmetti, a 6-3 decision issued on June 18, 2025, the Supreme Court upheld Tennessee’s cruel and discriminatory ban on transition-related healthcare for youth. This means extremist state legislatures nationwide can continue to deny medically necessary healthcare to young people.

A January 28 Trump executive order directed federal agencies to illegally defund healthcare providers who provide gender-affirming medical treatments to anyone under 19.

Having protections in New Jersey is also crucial for the 39 percent of trans youth who live in states with gender-affirming care bans and may want to access care here.

states currently have bans on gender-affirming care for trans youth.

states impose penalties on medical providers for providing gender-affirming care.

OUR STORIES

Trans people and their families from across New Jersey share how being able to access gender-affirming care has helped them. Click the storyteller’s name to view their full narrative.

Gender-affirming care is medically necessary and must be covered by all health insurance providers so that transgender people like me can afford to receive the care that we need.

— Michelle

I would not be here writing this if it wasn’t for the availability of gender-affirming healthcare. Now I live at peace with myself and have never been happier.

— Simone

Knowing that I have doctors I can rely on, and a state that cares about me and my family, has allowed me to build my life the way I wanted, with a family and a home and a good career.

— Steve

CONTACT YOUR LEGISLATORS

Let your legislators know that you support the Reproductive Freedom and Health Equity bill package, and that gender-affirming care must be part of it!

Please personalize your message to share why this issue is important to you.

SHARE YOUR STORY

Have you been denied gender-affirming healthcare in New Jersey?

Please fill out this form to let us know so we can get a better sense of how widespread healthcare denials are here and work to stop them.

Let us know how gender-affirming care has helped you or your loved ones—or how not being able to access it has affected you.

OUR COALITION

If your organization is interested in joining the Jersey for Trans Healthcare coalition, please FILL OUT THIS FORM.

FOR LEGISLATORS

The Reproductive Freedom and Health Equity bill package is comprised of nine bills.

The three bills listed below specifically have the potential to protect gender-affirming care for trans people in New Jersey.

Reproductive Care Coverage and Provider Protection (A4601/S3452)
Passed Senate

Requires health insurance and Medicaid coverage for family planning and reproductive healthcare services
Prohibits adverse actions by medical malpractice insurers in relation to performance of legally protected healthcare services, including reproductive healthcare and gender-affirming healthcare

Right to Legally Protected Healthcare (A4656/S3491)
Introduced

Secures protections for patients and providers accessing and providing legally protected healthcare, including reproductive healthcare and gender-affirming healthcare
Establishes right of New Jerseyans and people in New Jersey from other states to legally protected healthcare services that are restricted in other states

Data Privacy (A4658/S3493)
Passed Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee

Requires affirmative written consent for certain entities to disclose medical information regarding reproductive healthcare services, with limited exceptions, unless disclosure is necessary to provide those services.
This bill has amendments pending that would include medical information about infertility and gender-affirming healthcare.