NEPTUNE CITY, N.J. – An LGBTQ advocacy group which has been at the forefront of pushing LGBTQ issues into public schools is under fire this week for a very serious incident involving its leader and a child.
Christian Fuscarino, the executive director of Garden State Equality, has been charged with second-degree endangering the welfare of a child by a caretaker and two counts of simple assault, according to court filings made public this week.
Authorities allege Fuscarino assaulted a child in his home on the night of Nov. 9, an incident captured by a home security camera.
Publicly funded entity
Garden State Equality is a publicly funded entity that receives grants from New Jersey and the federal government. In their latest 2024 Form 990 IRS filing, they reported nearly $1,500,000 in funding. They paid $855,000 in salaries. Fuscarino was paid a $134,000 salary prior to his criminally invoked departure.
The affidavit of probable cause states the 35-year-old pulled the child out of bed and struck the child several times across the face with an open hand before pushing the child into a wall. The report further alleges Fuscarino paused to speak to the child before striking again.
A caretaker later brought the child to the Monmouth County Child Advocacy Center in Freehold, where a forensic interview was conducted. The affidavit notes that during the interview, the child made no direct disclosure of physical abuse.
According to NJ.com, another individual in the residence told investigators he witnessed Fuscarino hitting the child and intervened during the altercation.
Charges follow video evidence and witness account
The video recording of the alleged incident was later obtained by investigators with the state Division of Child Protection and Permanency, who then alerted the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office on Nov. 20. The evidence formed the basis for the criminal charges filed against the Garden State Equality leader.
Fuscarino’s attorney, Mitchell Ansell, described the situation as a “difficult personal family moment,” emphasizing that it was a private matter now made public. Court records indicate the case remains active, with no trial date yet scheduled.
It has been reported that the child was a foster child.
Garden State Equality places Fuscarino on leave
In a public statement issued by Garden State Equality, the organization said Fuscarino was immediately placed on leave upon learning of the charges. “Garden State Equality takes allegations against our staff seriously and we oppose violence of any kind,” the group said. “We respect the courts and will allow that process to be handled by them. We will continue our important work with our acting Executive Director.”
Fuscarino, who has led Garden State Equality since 2016, is a prominent figure in New Jersey’s LGBTQ rights movement and has been credited with expanding the organization’s advocacy in schools, healthcare, and policy reform. His current employment status remains on hold pending the outcome of the criminal case.
Case now in hands of county prosecutors
The Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office has not released further comment beyond confirming the charges. Fuscarino is expected to appear in court for a preliminary hearing in the coming weeks.
If convicted of the endangerment charge, Fuscarino could face up to 10 years in state prison under New Jersey law.