GLAAD, GARDEN STATE EQUALITY RELEASE LGBTQ RECORDS OF THE CANDIDATES FOR GOVERNOR OF NEW JERSEY, JACK CIATTARELLI AND MIKIE SHERRILL

GLAAD President and CEO: “As LGBTQ people and topics about our lives remain at the center of political campaigns, it is essential that media include LGBTQ voices and candidates’ LGBTQ records.”

(New York, NY and Asbury Park, NJ – June 30, 2025)  GLAAD, the world’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) media advocacy organization, and Garden State Equality, the largest LGBTQ+ advocacy organization in New Jersey, are releasing the LGBTQ records of the candidates for New Jersey governor, former state assembly member Jack Ciattarelli and U.S. Rep. Mikie Sherrill.

About 343,000 LGBTQ people live in New Jersey, which is the first state in the nation to require LGBTQ-inclusive teachings in all subject areas. Twenty-five percent of LGBTQ adults in New Jersey are raising children. 

Ciattarelli, a former state assemblyman and repeat gubernatorial candidate, has a record of opposing LGBTQ rights, including votes against marriage equality, votes against gender marker updates on personal identity documents, and inaccurate and inflammatory rhetoric about LGBTQ people.

Sherrill, currently serving in Congress, has consistently supported pro-LGBTQ legislation, protections, and visibility. Her record includes votes for federal non-discrimination protections, access to gender-affirming care, and marriage equality.

The candidates’ LGBTQ records and additional background available here.

“Elected officials have a responsibility not only to legislate but to protect and lead those most vulnerable,” said Brielle Winslow-Majette (she/her), Deputy Director of Garden State Equality.

“Showing up for the LGBTQ+ community is not optional; in a world that is debating our identities, we need strong allies who will ensure that the New Jersey state laws are protected from the rollback of LGBTQ rights across the country,” Winslow-Majette said. “We value leaders who listen, grow, and show up when it matters most. We need an elected official who is present, vocal, and ready to partner with us as we continue the fight for lived equality for all.”

“As LGBTQ people and topics about our lives remain at the center of political campaigns, it is essential that media include LGBTQ voices and candidates’ LGBTQ records,” said GLAAD President and CEO, Sarah Kate Ellis (she/her). 

“Accurate and responsible campaign coverage must include the voices of the people being discussed,” Ellis continued. “New Jersey residents deserve to know where candidates stand, and accurate and inclusive coverage is necessary for voters to make informed decisions.”

Research on the candidates’ LGBTQ records includes:

Former NJ Assembly Member Jack Ciattarelli (R)

—Promised to “roll back” LGBTQ curriculum required in New Jersey public schools. Ciattarelli said, without basis, “When I’m governor you won’t have to deal with it, but we don’t teach gender ID and sexual orientation to kindergartens. In the sixth grade we don’t teach sodomy. And we’re going to push back on the LGBTQ curriculum. It goes too far.” In fact, the 2019 New Jersey law requires schools to teach about LGBTQ history. The law has provisions for instruction for all of the state’s high school students that explains “the political, economic, and social contributions of people with disabilities and lesbians, gays, bisexuals, and transgender people.”

—Said in a candidate debate, “I oppose discrimination in all its forms.  But I also oppose extreme measures that negatively impact women and girls, like allowing males to play women’s sports.” Transgender women are women and follow all guidelines to participate.

—Said he would, if elected governor, repeal protections for transgender and nonbinary youth “on day one and would replace the entire State Board of Education. School districts should never cut parents out from decisions about their own child.” New Jersey Board of Education policy restricts school officials and teachers from notifying the parents that their child prefers to be identified by another gender. Forced outings of youth compromise their safety and access to affirming support.

—Voted against a resolution urging the U.S. Supreme Court to uphold same-sex marriage nationwide. 

—Voted against the bill to legalize same-sex marriage. The legislation passed but was vetoed by Gov. Chris Christie. Marriage equality became legal in New Jersey in 2013 after a state court ruling and was legalized nationwide in 2015 with the Supreme Court Obergefell decision.  

—Voted against legislation that would enable transgender people to change the gender marker on their official birth records.

—Voted for legislation prohibiting dangerous and discredited so called “conversion therapy” for minors.

—Endorsed for governor by Donald Trump. 

U.S. Representative Mikie Sherrill (D)

—Voted no on the so-called “Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act,” federal legislation that restricts transgender girls and women from participating in sport programs for girls and women. 

—Voted no on the “Parents Bill of Rights Act,” federal legislation that mandates parental consent and notification for LGBTQ students’ gender identity-related changes at school, potentially compromising their privacy, safety, and access to affirming support.

—Voted for the National Defense Authorization Act, which removed medical coverage of transgender dependents of military personnel, health care that is supported by every major medical association. Sherrill defended the December 2024 vote: “Speaker Johnson chose to accelerate that timeline by adding an amendment that singled out a small handful of innocent children to be used as political pawns. This amendment flies in the face of a bipartisan NDAA which was supposed to focus on quality of life for service members and their families. I served for almost ten years and I have seen firsthand how difficult it can be to care for a family through a cycle of constant deployments. Governing requires making tough choices with the options in front of you. Had this bill failed, extremist House Republicans would simply have bided their time, coming back in January with a Trump-led government trifecta to use the NDAA to enact the whole slate of their dangerous agenda. This is only the first salvo in a fight to which I am extremely committed.” 

—Voted yes on the Respect for Marriage Act, which sought to protect interracial and same-sex marriages from potential legal challenges, underscoring her commitment to safeguarding marriage equality. President Biden signed the act into law in 2022. 

—Hosted a town hall with Senator Cory Booker at the EDGE New Jersey/CAN Wellness Center, providing a platform for discussions on LGBTQ issues. 

—Co-sponsored and voted in favor of H.R. 5, the Equality Act. This bill would extend the anti-discrimination protections under the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to LGBTQ Americans in housing, education, employment, credit, public accommodation, federal funding, and federal jury service. 

—Member of the Congressional LGBTQ Equality Caucus.

—Endorsed for governor by Garden State Equality Action Fund.

—Sponsored the legislation Restore Honor to Service Members Act which corrects military records for those discharged solely due to sexual orientation.

—Sponsored a resolution commemorating LGBTQ Equality Day which establishes June 26 as LGBTQ Equality Day, celebrating key Supreme Court rulings.

–Sponsored the Therapeutic Fraud Prevention Act which bans fraudulent and dangerous so-called “conversion therapy” practices.

—Sponsored the LGBT Data Inclusion Act which requires federal surveys to collect voluntary LGBTQ demographic data.

—Sponsored the PrEP Assistance Program Act which creates grants to fund or expand PrEP (HIV prevention) assistance programs.

—Posted in support of Pride month: “Pride is a celebration of love, identity, and the ongoing fight for equality. This month I look forward to celebrating with the LGBTQ+ community in NJ-11 as we work to build a future where everyone is safe, seen, and supported.”

—Celebrated with attendees at Montclair Pride 2025, 2024, and 2023, as well as Jersey Pride (Asbury Park).

Additional background:

• New Jersey Law Against Discrimination (LAD) is one of the earliest and most protective state laws against discrimination, and includes protections against discrimination based on gender identity and expression. These protections have been part of the LAD for more than 15 years.
  • The law is enforced through the New Jersey Attorney General’s Division on Civil Rights. New Jersey’s governor appoints the state’s Attorney General, making it one of the most powerful governorships in the country.
  • The LAD prohibits discrimination in employment, housing, public accommodations such as schools, businesses, health care, restaurants.
  • The LAD has protected LGBTQ students from hostile school board policies including forced outings.
• Earlier this year, the NJ Superior Court blocked three school districts from implementing forced outing policies, ruling they likely violated the LAD and affirming LAD protections for trans students, supportive families, and safe schools.
• Dangers of forced outing include harms to mental health and family support, as well as a risk of homelessness. 
• One-third of youth outed without their consent were more likely to experience major symptoms of depression and lower family support than those who were not. 
• 28% of LGBTQ youth experience homelessness or housing instability at some point in their lives. Family conflict around LGBTQ identities is a driving factor. (Trevor Project)
• The next New Jersey governor may decide the fate of the Reproductive Freedom and Health Equity Bill Package, a set of nine bills that protect patients and providers, support bodily autonomy, and proactively codify existing regulations and practices for legally protected, medically necessary health care services, including reproductive  and transgender health care.
• New Jersey is among 24 states that allow and protect access to health care for transgender people and youth. Transition-related health care is supported by all major medical associations, improves mental health and quality of life, and is often lifesaving for those who can access it.
• Trans healthcare in New Jersey is unaffected by the Supreme Court’s recent decision in the Skrmetti case which upheld a ban on health care for transgender youth in Tennessee. The same care and treatments are allowed for cisgender youth in Tennessee without restriction.
• GLAAD FACT SHEET: Trans people in sports
• The New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association policy supports transgender participation in school sports. In 16 years not a single complaint about a transgender athlete has been brought to the attention of the NJSIAA. In February, the NJSIAA affirmed the organization’s inclusive policy — despite President Trump’s executive order on trans student-athletes.
• GLAAD ALERT DESK (Anti-LGBTQ Extremism Reporting Tracker) tracked 79 anti-LGBTQ incidents in New Jersey, including 27 cases of vandalism, 6 bomb threats, two arson attempts, and two violent assaults since June 2022.

About Garden State Equality:

Garden State Equality, the largest LGBTQ+ advocacy organization in New Jersey, lifts up the diverse voices of LGBTQ+ communities through education and advocacy to advance the movement for equality in New Jersey and nationally.