Garden State Equality

Celebrate 20 years of Garden State Equality with us this #GivingTuesday! Donate now! >> https://gse.lgbt/eoy24 For two decades, we've fought to secure lived and legal equality for LGBTQ+ New Jerseyans. Over the years, that's included: - Helping enact 230+ LGBTQ+ civil rights laws and policies - Implementing a first-of-its-kind LGBTQ-inclusive curriculum - Forming the nation's first statewide Trans Equality Task Force A gift to us this Giving Tuesday will: - Sponsor resources for LGBTQ+ youth - Support advocacy efforts - Fund education and training programs [IDs: Over a blue gradient background is the same text as the caption.] #LGBTQ #LGBT #queer #trans #transgender #NewJersey #NJ #charity #nonprofit #donate

@ white women: stopping racism starts with us. - white women of Garden State Equality. Join us for the first meeting of: Undoing Harm: white women Committing to Anti-Racist Accompliceship Tuesday, Dec. 3 • 7-8:30pm • VIRTUAL https://lnkd.in/epjeCYMF We recognize the need for intentionality and accountability in addressing racism, particularly in solidarity with Black, Brown, and Indigenous women. To advance this work, we are creating a recurring space for white women to unlearn racism, dismantle systemic harms, and support the leadership of BIPOC individuals and communities. This initiative is designed to complement Garden State Equality's Queer BIPOC Network*, fostering collective efforts toward equity and justice across all our programs. This group is open to all women, and those of similar genders, who identify as white. *Learn more and join the Queer BIPOC Network at https://gse.lgbt/qbn Through this initiative, we aim to: Support one another in becoming more anti-racist in our actions and understanding. Deepen our awareness of how anti-racism intersects with queer liberation, disability justice, and the elimination of all forms of oppression. Commit to showing up in solidarity and listening to the leadership of Black, Brown, and Indigenous women as we strive to mitigate harm. We believe in the self-determination of all people. We are in conversation with and listening to Black and Brown women to make change that benefits those communities and women as a whole. For centuries, Black women have been the vanguard of the fight for all forms of liberation and justice. As white women, we acknowledge this leadership and commit to doing our part. [IDs: The same text as the caption over an off-white background.] #LGBTQ #LGBT #queer #trans #transgender #NewJersey #NJ #antiracism #women

MASCARA XVI: Lessons in Light is TOMORROW — and there's still time to register! ⁠ https://gse.lgbt/mascara ⁠ Join us, the African American Office of Gay Concerns and the Intercultural Resource Center at Rutgers—Newark for a day of community wellness, shared grieving, healing, resilience, and education for transgender, nonbinary, and gender diverse people and our allies. ⁠ ⁠ We have panels on building solidarity and hope at this time of crisis for our community as well as the intersection of HIV and gender affirming care.⁠ ⁠ Additionally, there will be a Trans Day of Remembrance Vigil to honor and grieve the community members we've lost to senseless and systematized hate.⁠ ⁠ We will also have FREE lunch, FREE testing, vendors, and performances by special guests, including @thejasonarodriguez!⁠ ⁠ WHEN: Saturday, November 23 • 12-5pm⁠ WHERE: Paul Robeson Campus Center, Rutgers University—Newark, 350 Dr. Martin Luther King Blvd, Newark, NJ 07102⁠ ⁠ [ID: Flyer for the event with the second paragraph of the caption and date/location info. The background is purple, teal, and pink with chrome butterflies.]⁠ ⁠ #LGBTQ #LGBT #queer #trans #transgender #NewJersey #NJ #nonbinary #genderqueer #newark #northjersey #TDOR #transawarenessweek

On Trans Day of Remembrance, we mourn all those we've lost due to hate — senseless, of course, yet becoming more systematized day-by-day. We are grieving the 427 transgender, nonbinary, and gender diverse people around the world whose deaths were documented since last year's TDOR. However, we know this number is far from complete. We also mourn the trans, nonbinary, and gender diverse people whose deaths could never have been documented, whether they were unable to come out or their identity in life was not recorded in death. Today and every day, we honor those we've lost and fight for those who are still here. 🩵🩷🤍🩷🩵 [ID: Over a starry background in a pink and blue gradient: "Transgender Day of Remembrance."] #LGBTQ #LGBT #queer #trans #transgender #NewJersey #NJ #TDOR #transdayofremembrance #nonbinary #genderqueer #transawarenessweek

BREAKING: Arguments just wrapped in the New Jersey Superior Court cases against 3 school districts seeking to implement policies that would forcibly out transgender, nonbinary, and gender diverse students. As we await the decision in the forced outing cases, we're reminded again how damaging to the mental health and well-being of LGBTQ+ students the actions of these districts has been. It is hard not to see it as a part of the broader picture that saw $215 million poured into anti-trans presidential campaign ads. School boards seeking to either implement forced-outing policies or remove guidance for school staff only serve to signal to vulnerable students that school is not a safe place. To paint the protection of trans students in unsafe home conditions as being in opposition to the concept of parents' rights is both disingenuous and dangerous, as there has never been a movement to prevent parental notification of a student's gender identity in the case where a student allows for such. Both the text of the amended policy, and related Board discussions, made clear that the amended policy was intended to target students on the basis of gender identity and gender expression, in violation of New Jersey law, and as such, we're grateful for the robust protections provided by New Jersey's Law Against Discrimination. The bottom line is: if you want to ensure your child tells you something, make sure they know they're loved and honored unconditionally. The proposed policy by Marlboro, Middletown and Manalapan-Englishtown singles out students on the basis of legally-protected characteristics. We’re grateful to ACLU-NJ and Lowenstein Sandler LLP for their collaboration on these cases and their commitment to ensuring schools remain safe for ALL students in New Jersey. [ID: "Screenshots" of a thread post with the same text as the caption.] #LGBTQ #LGBT #queer #trans #transgender #NewJersey #NJ #students #schools #studentsrights #LGBTQyouth #nonbinary #genderqueer

School should be safe for ALL students. Today, we’re in court along with ACLU-NJ and Lowenstein Sandler, arguing that schools should not be forced to out students based on their gender identity. These policies severely harm both transgender, nonbinary, and gender diverse students and schools. Transgender, nonbinary, and gender diverse students and their families can check out our Know Your Rights for Trans Students on our website. [ID: Over a dark green gradient are the first 3 paragraphs of the caption.] #LGBTQ #LGBT #queer #trans #transgender #NewJersey #NJ

We've made the decision to postpone our Trans Day of Remembrance Community Art Night to next month to give community members the opportunity to attend both traditional TDoR programming and our event. Stay tuned for updates on the date and time. [ID: "Postponed until December" over the flyer for the Community Art Night.]

TONIGHT: Discuss lived experiences, self-advocacy strategies, and advice for finding affirming mental health providers with other trans, nonbinary, or gender diverse person during this FREE webinar at 6pm. Register >> https://gse.lgbt.taw24 WHEN: Monday, Nov. 18 • 6-7:30pm [TONIGHT] [ID: Flyer for "Rooted in Reslience: A TGD+ Mental Health Webinar By Us & For Us." It includes the same description as the caption. The background is a blue risograph print butterfly.] #LGBTQ #LGBT #queer #trans #transgender #NewJersey #NJ #TDOR #transawarenessweek #nonbinary #genderqueer #webinar #mentalhealth

Introducing... NextGen College Ambassadors! A new program from Garden State Equality for 18-to-24 year-olds in New Jersey to learn skills in advocacy, fundraising, and community building! Learn more here >> https://gse.lgbt/nextgen And sign up for an interest meeting here >> https://lnkd.in/eN9g-WP3 [IDs: 1: Introducing... NextGen College Ambassadors. Advocacy, community, growth. 2: About NextGen: A hybrid program for 18-24 year-olds in New Jersey to learn skills in advocacy, fundraising, and community building. Participants will have the opportunity to use resources to plan their own events on campus, network with peers to collaborate on events, advertise and attend events happening in their areas, and learn about internship and professional opportunities in advocacy and social justice. 3: NextGen Resources: MONTHLY NEWSLETTER featuring statewide and collegiate LGBTQ+ events, updates on LGBTQ+ legislation, job/internship opportunities, and more! Career and internship database with job listings from LGBTQ+ friendly employers in New Jersey. In-person networking events with peers and professionals. And that is just the start... We need YOUR input! 4: Want to learn more? Join us for an interest meeting! Monday, November 25 3:30-4:15 pm & 7:30-8:15 pm Virtual Meeting Saturday, February 1 1:30-3:00 pm In-Person Meeting Location TBD Want to learn more?] #LGBTQ #LGBT #queer #trans #transgender #NewJersey #NJ #college #highered #education #networking

You can still register for our FREE LGBTQ+ Summit During the League of Municipalities w/ the NJ Pride Chamber and the Equality Mixer — both next Tuesday in Atlantic City! Both events are OPEN TO PUBLIC. You do not need to have a conference badge to attend. Registration is required for the summit. LGBTQ+ Summit >> https://gse.lgbt/league24 Equality Mixer >> https://gse.lgbt/mixer24 WHEN: Tuesday, Nov. 19 WHERE: Ocean Casino Resort, 500 Boardwalk, Atlantic City, NJ 08401 (Must be 21+ to attend Equality Mixer.) [IDs: 1: Flyer for the summit. Over a grayed out photo of Ocean Casino Resort: "Join us at the LGBTQ+ Summit During the League of Municipalities. FREE EVENT! Listen in on our informative panel and partake in our breakout session! FREE lunch & snacks provided! Tuesday, Nov. 19, 10am-2pm. Presentations, panels, Breakout Sessions, Pitch Competitions, & More..." 2: Over a photo of drag queen Freeda Kulo in a sequin dress: "Equality Mixer. Tuesday, Nov. 19, 6-8pm. HQ2 Nightclub, Ocean Casino Resort. 21+ only. Music, Drinks, Queens, Networking. Free! Sponsored by Horizon BCBS of New Jersey and Ocean Pride."] #LGBTQ #LGBT #queer #trans #transgender #NewJersey #NJ #leagueofmunicipalities #atlanticcity #drag #dragqueen #entrepreneur #entrepreneurship #business #networking