TRENTON, NJ – New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy declared the Garden State a transgender safe haven on Tuesday. Murphy signed Executive Order 326 which confirms the New Jersey state constitution’s granted rights of fairness and equal treatment to all residents.
“New Jersey’s community of residents who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, intersex, asexual, or otherwise do not identify as heterosexual or cisgender (“LGBTQIA+”) can experience inequality in our health care system, particularly when seeking care related to sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression,” Murphy said as the reasoning behind his executive order.
The executive order prohibits healthcare insurers from denying or limiting coverage due to a person’s “gender identity or expression” to include gender transition surgeries and services.
“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. “As leaders, our greatest responsibility is ensuring that every person we represent, regardless of their gender identity or gender expression, is entitled to respect, fairness, and freedom. 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 for those seeking or providing gender-affirming health care.”
Executive Order No. 326 aims to promote equitable access to quality health care services for members of the LGBTQIA+ community, including transgender and non-binary youth, regardless of their sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression, regardless of their residency status in New Jersey or elsewhere.
The Order prevents the extradition of individuals within New Jersey to other states for providing or receiving gender-affirming health care services that are lawful in New Jersey. Additionally, it prohibits Executive Branch departments and agencies from participating in out-of-state investigations that seek to penalize individuals or entities for engaging in such care. Under the Order, all Executive Branch departments and agencies are required to use their authority to support and coordinate efforts to protect those seeking, providing, receiving, or assisting in gender-affirming health care services within New Jersey.
In the context of this Order, “gender-affirming health care” pertains to medical care that caters to the physical, mental, and social health requirements of transgender or non-binary individuals, with the objective of validating and supporting their gender identity. Such care encompasses mental health or psychiatric assistance, hormone replacement therapy, surgery, and other non-surgical treatments that align with a person’s gender identity. Additionally, it includes behavioral or medical interventions, treatments, and therapies intended to validate and support an individual’s gender identity.