I have just sent this ti John Coughlin the Assembly Speaker in NJ and will be calling as well
You are deliberately blocking a floor vote on transgender protection legislation that already has majority Democratic support and dozens of co-sponsors in the New Jersey Legislature.
This is not a policy dispute. This is a leadership failure.
Bills strengthening protections for transgender people—against discrimination, denial of care, and state-level interference—have been introduced, vetted, and publicly supported by a clear majority of your caucus.
Yet you continue to keep them off the floor. That is not neutrality. That is obstruction.
At a moment when the federal government and multiple states are openly attacking transgender people, your refusal to allow a vote is functionally indistinguishable from siding with those attacks.
New Jersey law already recognizes gender identity as a protected class. When enforcement gaps exist, the Legislature has a constitutional and statutory duty to act. You are preventing that duty from being carried out.
Let’s be clear:
The votes exist.
The sponsors exist.
The need is urgent.
The only barrier is your decision.
If members are afraid to vote, let them be on record. If leadership is worried about optics, that concern does not outweigh civil rights. Holding legislation hostage to avoid political discomfort is cowardice, not governance.
Post the bill. Call the vote. Let Assembly members answer to their constituents instead of hiding behind your desk.
Transgender New Jerseyans are watching—and so are voters.
Mike, I am saving this post and your reply. Virginia should be the next state to support and protect Transgender rights. We finally have the trifecta we need. Thank you so much.
Democrats need to use legislation to educate the public about transgender and intersex people. In NC the ignorant GOP majority passed a bill stating that there are only 2 genders. I guess if you are born intersex in NC, you are born a crime. Reading the book, "Becoming Nicole". according to the research done in Australia, transgender individuals are born with the brain of 1 sex, but have the anatomy of the opposite gender. It's not a morality issue that makes some christian god angry, it's a matter of science. Please educate people on intersex and chromosomal science to help others understand the science behind it. PLEASE.
Of course he's too much of a weenie to even face his own constituents. That's how you know that 𝘩𝘦 knows he's in the wrong- he won't defend his position. Hell, he doesn't even want to put his position on 𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘳𝘥.
I hope NJ passes this. I am disappointed that they have not done so yet, and that executive orders are the only thing trans care is apparently relying on right now. I have long been skeptical that NJ really belongs in the same deep blue category on Erin’s map as such states as IL, VT, MA, and MN. It’s always seemed light blue at most to me. Maybe the legislature will turn this around and justify NJ as a truly protective state.
Thanks S. Baum for keeping us informed. I hope the good people of NJ call their reps and let them know how they feel. Stay Strong and Keep the Love Alive!
I am a NJ resident who considers herself engaged in local issues. I have not seen any call to action except this one. Thank you for your reporting. It is critical.
Trans people in NJ are on their own. As a NJ resident and political observer, I never for a minute believed their pledge to move this legislation.
And now we have Governor elect Sherrill, who couldn’t even utter the word transgender when asked numerous times about her support for this legislation and beyond during the campaign. She also voted for the NDAA that took away coverage for trans healthcare.
I don’t know why we keep giving passes to politicians in the Democrat Party, and believe they will fight for the community, when most are in full retreat too afraid to fight for basic human rights. And too quick to take them away - like Sherrill did.
I have just sent this ti John Coughlin the Assembly Speaker in NJ and will be calling as well
You are deliberately blocking a floor vote on transgender protection legislation that already has majority Democratic support and dozens of co-sponsors in the New Jersey Legislature.
This is not a policy dispute. This is a leadership failure.
Bills strengthening protections for transgender people—against discrimination, denial of care, and state-level interference—have been introduced, vetted, and publicly supported by a clear majority of your caucus.
Yet you continue to keep them off the floor. That is not neutrality. That is obstruction.
At a moment when the federal government and multiple states are openly attacking transgender people, your refusal to allow a vote is functionally indistinguishable from siding with those attacks.
New Jersey law already recognizes gender identity as a protected class. When enforcement gaps exist, the Legislature has a constitutional and statutory duty to act. You are preventing that duty from being carried out.
Let’s be clear:
The votes exist.
The sponsors exist.
The need is urgent.
The only barrier is your decision.
If members are afraid to vote, let them be on record. If leadership is worried about optics, that concern does not outweigh civil rights. Holding legislation hostage to avoid political discomfort is cowardice, not governance.
Post the bill. Call the vote. Let Assembly members answer to their constituents instead of hiding behind your desk.
Transgender New Jerseyans are watching—and so are voters.
Mike, I am saving this post and your reply. Virginia should be the next state to support and protect Transgender rights. We finally have the trifecta we need. Thank you so much.
Glad to be of help
Fucking Dems always puss out
Democrats need to use legislation to educate the public about transgender and intersex people. In NC the ignorant GOP majority passed a bill stating that there are only 2 genders. I guess if you are born intersex in NC, you are born a crime. Reading the book, "Becoming Nicole". according to the research done in Australia, transgender individuals are born with the brain of 1 sex, but have the anatomy of the opposite gender. It's not a morality issue that makes some christian god angry, it's a matter of science. Please educate people on intersex and chromosomal science to help others understand the science behind it. PLEASE.
Of course he's too much of a weenie to even face his own constituents. That's how you know that 𝘩𝘦 knows he's in the wrong- he won't defend his position. Hell, he doesn't even want to put his position on 𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘳𝘥.
Useless fucking coward.
Disappointing but not shocking. Even when they have the power to defend trans people Democrats are unreliable at best.
I hope NJ passes this. I am disappointed that they have not done so yet, and that executive orders are the only thing trans care is apparently relying on right now. I have long been skeptical that NJ really belongs in the same deep blue category on Erin’s map as such states as IL, VT, MA, and MN. It’s always seemed light blue at most to me. Maybe the legislature will turn this around and justify NJ as a truly protective state.
Thanks S. Baum for keeping us informed. I hope the good people of NJ call their reps and let them know how they feel. Stay Strong and Keep the Love Alive!
I am a NJ resident who considers herself engaged in local issues. I have not seen any call to action except this one. Thank you for your reporting. It is critical.
Trans people in NJ are on their own. As a NJ resident and political observer, I never for a minute believed their pledge to move this legislation.
And now we have Governor elect Sherrill, who couldn’t even utter the word transgender when asked numerous times about her support for this legislation and beyond during the campaign. She also voted for the NDAA that took away coverage for trans healthcare.
I don’t know why we keep giving passes to politicians in the Democrat Party, and believe they will fight for the community, when most are in full retreat too afraid to fight for basic human rights. And too quick to take them away - like Sherrill did.
Thank you for this very informative post.