LGBT Rights: Montclair's Garden State Equality Has New Leader

Montclair, NJ – One of New Jersey’s largest advocacy groups for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community has a new leader.

On Monday, Montclair-based Garden State Equality (GSE) announced that it had instated Christian Fuscarino as its new executive director.

According to a release, Fuscarino has roots in New Jersey, growing up in Belmar and spending much of his youth in and around Asbury Park.

Fuscarino, who GSE named after conducting “an exhaustive national search,” laid out an agenda to fight discrimination in “all forms.”

“Garden State Equality will be working night and day to ensure New Jersey does not fall victim to the discrimination and absurdities we are seeing from far too many states across the country,” Fuscarino stated. “We will not stand for intolerance in any form. Too many members of the LGBT community are discriminated against both because of their sexual orientation and the color of their skin and/or their gender. Garden State Equality will not turn a blind eye to this. We will represent and be representative of all LGBT individuals.”

In a news release, Fuscarino discussed how the “rhetoric” of some candidates in the 2016 presidential campaign is “creating an atmosphere where discrimination is both accepted and even encouraged.”

He also referenced the recent anti-LGBT actions of North Carolina’s governor and legislature, as well as the public debate in New Jersey about the rights of transgender individuals, as examples of the continuing struggles of the LGBT community. 



“With the increasingly inflammatory rhetoric we see in today’s political discourse, it is even more important than ever that we have organizations like Garden State Equality on the front lines fighting on behalf of New Jersey’s LGBT community,” said U.S. Senator Cory Booker. “I applaud Christian for his tireless commitment to the LGBT community, and I look forward to working with him in his new role as we strive towards liberty and justice for all.”

“Christian has been a tireless advocate for LGBT rights for years and his efforts have advanced equality in New Jersey and throughout the country,” said U.S. Congressman Frank Pallone Jr. “He knows as well as anyone that while we have made tremendous progress in recent years, we still have a great deal of work to do.”

“[Fuscarino’s] skills and commitment will be a great asset to an organization that has distinguished itself in the cause of equal treatment and justice for everyone,” NJ Senate President Steve Sweeney stated.

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Photo courtesy of Garden State Equality