TRENTON, NJ — On Monday, March 17, the Garden State Equality Action Fund, alongside a diverse coalition of queer and pro-bodily autonomy groups and more than 100 supporters, will host an LGBTQ+ Lobby Day at the New Jersey Statehouse on Monday, March 17.
Themed around “Freedom for All Bodies,” the organizations and supporters will be advocating for several bills related to gender-affirming care, reproductive freedom, and bodily autonomy, as well as expanding access to the lifesaving HIV medications PrEP and PEP. They will also be educating lawmakers on some of the most pressing issues facing LGBTQ+ people today.
The coalition includes Planned Parenthood Action Fund of New Jersey, Hyacinth, League of Women Voters of New Jersey, Cherry Hill Women’s Center, and Bulletproof Pride, with funding provided by Gilead Sciences.
Lobby Day will take place from 9am-2pm, with activities taking place both inside and outside of the Statehouse Annex. The day of advocacy will be capped off with a rally in the Statehouse Annex courtyard at 1:30pm.
Press are encouraged to RSVP and reach out to coordinate interviews. Please see statements from the 2025 LGBTQ+ Lobby Day coalition below:
Aaron Potenza (he/him), Policy & Training Consultant, Garden State Equality:
“As the Trump administration continues to target us, both Republican and Democratic politicians are signaling that they believe attacking transgender people was a winning strategy in the 2024 election. This is despite voters ranking transgender rights as their least pressing concern when they cast their ballots in November. Transgender people make up around 1% of the U.S. population. Our lives and the issues we face are often misrepresented in the media and are being maliciously deployed by this administration to draw attention from the reality that they have no solutions on the economy and the real issues that voters care about. It is imperative that we confront these falsehoods, educate our elected representatives about the consequences of these policies — not just for transgender individuals but for everyone who believes in democracy, equality, and human dignity. That is why I am thrilled that Garden State Equality and community partners are rallying for our rights at the Statehouse. If you are trans, have trans people in your life that you care about, or simply understand that authoritarian governments target groups that are easy to scapegoat while Democracies uphold everyone’s civil rights, please join us in rallying for truth and equality this coming Monday.”
Roxanne Sutocky (she/her), Director of Public Affairs, Cherry Hill Women’s Center:
“Reproductive rights and LGBTQIA+ rights are inextricably linked — both rooted in the fight for bodily autonomy, health equity, and fundamental human rights. As abortion providers serving a diverse population within and beyond New Jersey, we know that attacks on any one of our communities are attacks on us all. That’s why we’re proud to be part of the 2025 LGBTQ+ Lobby Day, advocating for proactive policies that expand protections, increase access, and affirm the right of every person to make decisions about their body, life, and health safely, supported, and free from political interference.”
Melissa Marks (she/her), Manager of Mission Impact, League of Women Voters of New Jersey:
“The League of Women Voters of New Jersey is proud to stand alongside our partners and fierce advocates for LGBTQ+ rights and bodily autonomy. As our queer community faces attacks and uncertainty from the federal government, we are looking to our State Legislators to ensure New Jersey protects and values all of its residents and celebrates our diversity.”
Kaitlyn Wojtowicz (she/her), Executive Director, Planned Parenthood Action Fund of New Jersey
“In New Jersey, we have made great strides to protect and expand access to abortion. But as the attacks on our bodies and health continue, New Jersey needs to be bold in the face of hate and do everything in our power to ensure we remain a state where our rights and freedoms are protected. The Reproductive Freedom and Health Equity bill package is a package of nine bills that will shore up protections and expand access for reproductive health care and gender affirming care. The Trump administration poses a grave threat to the entire range of reproductive health care services and bodily autonomy. We will not stand by and watch this administration attack us, our families, and our communities. This moment calls for bravery and boldness and so we call on the State Legislature to move the Reproductive Freedom and Health Equity Bill Package as soon as possible.”
Raisa Rubin-Stankiewicz (she/her), Mental Health Director, Bulletproof Pride
“Bulletproof Pride is honored to be a partner on the 2025 New Jersey LGBTQ+ Lobby Day. We collaborated with Garden State Equality on a ‘Lobbying 101’ training for attendees, and we were energized and inspired by the turnout. Fifty people, including many first-time advocates, joined us for a weeknight training! As we see a coordinated national attack on the rights of LGBTQIA+ people, it could not be more important for New Jersey to protect gender-affirming care and reproductive rights, expand over-the-counter access to HIV medication, and defend trans and gender diverse youth. We will not stop mobilizing to defend our fundamental, inalienable rights to safety, healthcare, bodily autonomy, and to live free of government-sanctioned discrimination.”