However, young transgender New Jerseyans are facing the possibility of the Fairness in Women’s Sports Act, introduced in Trenton in March, which would force student athletes to participate in sports based on their sex at birth, regardless of their gender identity. In May, state Assemblywoman Valerie Vainieri Huttle, D-Bergen, introduced legislation to lower the criminal penalties for the intentional transmission of HIV.
Phil Murphy signed the LGBTQI+ Senior Bill of Rights into law, preventing long-term care facilities from denying access to, discharging, evicting or transferring older LGBTQ adults or those living with HIV based on their identity, as well as a law streamlining LGBTQ military veterans’ access to benefits. There’s plenty for advocates and community members to march about in New Jersey. Fuscarino said this month’s iterations of the Equality Walk will have “all the proper precautions” for COVID-19 safety in place, such as encouraged usage of masks, the availability of hand sanitizer and routes - starting at the Ocean Casino Resort on the boardwalk in Atlantic City and the First Congregational Church of Montclair on South Fullerton Avenue in Montclair - that will not require participants to walk through tight spaces.
