LQBTQ+ Rights
Know your rights as a member of the LGBTQ+ Community!
Here on this page you can find statistics that show what kinds of challenges our community is facing, along with links to organizations that are working to explain and protect the rights of all members of the LGBTQ+ community.
Statistics on Anti-LGBTQ+ bias and other LGBTQ+ community challenges
In New Jersey
The New Jersey State Office of the Attorney General tracks bias incident reports by the specific bias motivation.
In 2022 anti-LGBTQ bias incidents accounted for 17% of all incidents and were the third highest category, behind anti-Black and virtually tied with anti-Jewish incidents. This was the same trend as in 2021 and has continued into January 2023.
Between 2018 and 2020, total bias incidents in NJ almost tripled and between 2020 and 2022 there was an 80% increase.
See the following reports of the NJ State Police for details: 2022 NJ Total Bias Incidents and 2020 Bias Incident Report
In the U.S. :
The United States Census Bureau and other departments of the U.S. federal government tracks important statistics related to experiences of the LGBTQ+ community.
The LGBTQ+ community was hit harder by the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic [1]
LGBTQ+ adults struggled more with mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic than did non-LGBTQ+ adults [2]
The rate of violent crime victimization of lesbian- and gay-identifying persons has been more than double the rate for straight persons [3]
[1] https://www.census.gov/library/stories/2021/08/lgbt-community-harder-hit-by-economic-impact-of-pandemic.html
[2] https://www.census.gov/library/stories/2022/06/lgbt-adults-report-anxiety-depression-during-pandemic.html
[3] https://bjs.ojp.gov/content/pub/pdf/vvsogi1720.pdf
Organizations working to protect the rights of the LGBTQ+ community
The ACLU works to ensure that lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer people can live openly without discrimination and enjoy equal rights, personal autonomy, and freedom.
See the ACLU's Know Your LGBTQ Rights page for important information about your legal protections.
Lambda Legal is a a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and national organization committed to achieving full recognition of the civil rights of lesbians, gay men, bisexuals, transgender people and everyone living with HIV.
See their Know Your Rights page for information on issues related to employment, HIV, transgender, youth, and more. Their New Jersey page lists court cases in our state and provides information about NJ State laws related to LGBTQ+ protections.
The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) envisions a world where every member of the LGBTQ+ family has the freedom to live their truth without fear, and with equality under the law.
See the HRC's Resources page for information and tools for equality and inclusion related to topics of health equity, coming out, parenting, the workplace, hate crimes, and more.
LGBTQ+ persons staying in long-term care facilities in New Jersey or who are HIV+, have special rights and protections that were signed into law in March 2021 by Governor Murphy as a new and comprehensive Bill of Rights for LGBTQI and HIV+ residents of long-term care.
Read the brochure explaining these important protections.
(Spanish-language version here).