Governor Murphy Signs Executive Order Protecting Gender-Affirming Health Care in New Jersey

Governor Phil Murphy signed Executive Order No. 326 today, establishing New Jersey as a safe haven for gender-affirming health care. 

The Order directs all state departments and agencies to protect individuals, including health care professionals and patients, against potential repercussions for providing, receiving, assisting in providing, seeking, or traveling to New Jersey for gender-affirming health care services. 

This move reflects the Murphy Administration's commitment to fostering a safe and affirming healthcare environment in New Jersey amid threats to gender-affirming healthcare access across the country.

Governor Murphy said, "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." 

The Executive Order aims to provide equal access to quality health care services for LGBTQIA+ individuals in New Jersey, including transgender and non-binary youth, regardless of their sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression, and whether they are a resident of New Jersey or another state.

The Order bars the extradition of individuals within New Jersey to another state for providing or receiving gender-affirming healthcare services that are legal in New Jersey. Additionally, it prohibits Executive Branch departments and agencies from cooperating with interstate investigations aiming to hold someone liable for civil or criminal penalties associated with such care.

Governor Murphy signed the Executive Order alongside representatives from Garden State Equality, Bridges4Life, and LGBTQIA+ activists. Christian Fuscarino, Executive Director of Garden State Equality, praised the Governor for taking action to protect transgender people in New Jersey and those who care for them.

Bridges4Life founder Tahtianna Fermin called the Executive Order "humane," while youth activist Rebekah Bruesehoff expressed hope and gratitude for the state's action in supporting transgender and non-binary individuals. 

Jamie Bruesehoff, activist and mother of Rebekah Bruesehoff, underscored the importance of the Order, emphasizing the hardships families like hers face due to state governments' actions against gender-affirming health care.

"Gender-affirming health care" under this Order includes care addressing transgender or non-binary individuals' physical, mental, and/or social health needs, designed to support and affirm their gender identity. 

This encompasses mental health or psychiatric care, surgery, hormone replacement therapy, and other behavioral or medical interventions, treatments, and therapies designed to support and affirm an individual's gender identity.

For a copy of Executive Order No. 326, click here.