1. United States
2. N.J.
3. Letter

I'm writing to you today as a constituent and a member of Garden State Equality. In the face of nationwide attacks on medically necessary healthcare, both from the federal government and from state governments, I urge you to strengthen New Jersey's status as a safe haven for reproductive and trans healthcare by passing the Reproductive Freedom & Health Equity bill package immediately. Bodily autonomy is a basic right. Ensuring the right to legally protected healthcare is important to me, my family, and our future, and building health equity is a critical component of our success as a community. In particular, I would like to ask you to support three bills that would cement New Jersey’s protections for trans people and protect access to gender-affirming healthcare. The Healthcare Provider Protection bill would provide coverage for critical family planning and reproductive healthcare services, as well as preventing medical malpractice insurers from taking adverse action against providers for performing legally protected healthcare services, including reproductive healthcare and gender-affirming healthcare. The Protecting Patients and Providers bill is a “shield law” that would secure protections for patients—both from New Jersey and from out of state—accessing legally protected healthcare, including reproductive healthcare and gender-affirming healthcare, and would also protect healthcare providers offering such care. Twenty-six states currently have bans on gender-affirming healthcare, and we must ensure New Jersey is a leader in assisting with continued access to it. While Gov. Murphy signed an executive order to this effect in 2024, we must codify these protections. The Data Privacy in Healthcare bill requires affirmative written consent for disclosing medical information regarding reproductive healthcare services. Gender-affirming care is medically necessary and often lifesaving, and at a time when it is under attack by the federal government, we need to do what we can in New Jersey to ensure trans people can still access it. Thank you for being on the side of justice for all.