Statement from Garden State Equality Action Fund on NDAA “Yes” Votes by Reps. Sherrill and Gottheimer

On Wednesday, Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill and Congressman Josh Gottheimer voted for the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which rolled back access to healthcare nationwide for transgender minors from military families.

Garden State Equality spoke directly with Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill and Congressman Josh Gottheimer and their staffs both before and after these unacceptable votes.

The NDAA provision limiting healthcare for transgender youth is a harmful and unnecessary attack on service members and their families. No community should be used as a political pawn, especially when it comes to basic healthcare and dignity.

To ensure our representatives fully understand the harm caused by this provision, we have formally requested a meeting with both representatives’ offices with members from the Trans community for an educational conversation to amplify the voices of those directly impacted.

Garden State Equality remains steadfast in our commitment to holding lawmakers accountable and will continue to fight to ensure it is never acceptable to rollback lifesaving healthcare for those most vulnerable — especially for families that protect and defend our nation.