Trans people and their families, providers, and loved ones across New Jersey are navigating the devastating and rapidly evolving landscape around access to their medically necessary healthcare. We know our membership is looking for clarity about what is happening, and we are striving to keep you informed despite all of the uncertainty and conflicting information.
Let us be clear: the Trump administration is committed to denying trans people of all ages access to healthcare, with the intent to remove them from public life. Garden State Equality is committed to ensuring every trans person in New Jersey can access the healthcare they deserve. Gender-affirming care is lifesaving, research-validated, and evidence-based healthcare. We stand with our trans communities, and we will continue working tirelessly to prevent this administration from harming them.
In an effort to share as much credible information as we can, we’ve put together this update for our membership.
What We Know
Care stoppages: We are aware that some hospital systems are pausing or winding down transition-related healthcare. Families are beginning to self-report such denials. Reasons are not always apparent, but we believe some providers are hesitant to start treatment they may later feel forced to cancel. This uncertainty is putting families in incredibly difficult positions.
Shifting policies: Healthcare systems at large are placed in a position of choosing between short-term safety via compliance with federal demands, and the long-term financial and ethical complications of doing so. While some care continues, restrictions are actively being discussed within healthcare systems, including proposals to limit certain surgeries until the age of 19. Some individual providers are also referring families to out-of-state clinics, underscoring the ambiguity here at home.
Federal threats: The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has proposed rules and the U.S. House of Representatives has advanced spending bill provisions targeting trans healthcare (not included in the current Senate bill). Over 20 subpoenas have been issued nationally, but none have been answered to date. Hospitals are in the precarious position of facing potential federal retaliation if they do not comply.
Litigation: Proactive steps have already begun. The New Jersey Office of the Attorney General (OAG) has joined multistate litigation and secured an injunction against the federal government’s attempted ban, reinforcing that the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination continues to protect access to care in our home state.
Garden State Equality is in regular contact with hospital systems, the Attorney General’s office, and parent groups across the state. Together, we are working to get accurate information, push back against unlawful denials of care, and ensure families know their rights.
How You Can Help
Report Discrimination: If you or your child have been denied gender-affirming care, we urge you to let us know by completing our report form, and then completing the Division on Civil Rights complaint form. Your reports will help us stay informed on the impact of this situation and help the Attorney General’s office build strong cases to protect our communities.
Find Affirming Providers: Use our Affirming Healthcare Map to connect with providers in New Jersey who are committed to offering trans healthcare, so that families do not have to cross state borders for lifesaving treatment. Please note that provider practices can shift quickly. If you find that a listed provider is no longer affirming, please share your experience with us so we can ensure families always have up-to-date information.
Stay Involved: JerseyTrans.Care is your hub for action in this moment. There, you’ll find updates on the fight to protect gender-affirming care in New Jersey, ways to share your story, tools to report denials of care, and upcoming opportunities to take action alongside other families, activists, and allies.
Garden State Equality stands with New Jersey’s trans communities. Across our board, staff, and membership, trans voices lead and inform our work every day. We will continue to defend the right to lifesaving care, fight discrimination in every form, and challenge those who seek to deny healthcare.
We are grateful to our members, parent groups, individual activists, and grassroots collectives who are present in this moment. Together, our work brings clarity, holds obstructers of care accountable, and ensures trans youth are safe and supported. Together, we will ensure New Jersey remains a safe haven where trans people can live fully and access the healthcare they both need and deserve.