LGBTQ+ advocates are applauding Gov. Phil Murphy’s order creating a safe haven for people in the LGBTQ+ community seeking health care.

“When you’re dealing with the community, you’re constantly hearing stories of people that are scared,” says Tahtianna Fermin.

Fermin is a transgender advocate and identifies as transgender herself. She says she knows the personal hardships those in the community face.

“It’s scary we have people that just want to walk into the middle of the street and end their lives because they figure like there’s no saving,” Fermin says. “There’s no one that’s gonna get us out of this hole. No one cares about us.”

As a variety of states nationwide push to limit gender-affirming health care for minors and adults, Murphy doubled down on protections for the LGBTQ+ community.

“This executive order means so much at a time when hundreds of anti-trans laws are popping up across the country,” says Christian Fuscarino, executive director of Garden State Equality.

The order protects health care workers and patients from facing repercussions when they seek, receive, or provide gender-affirming services. Also, it forbids state agencies and departments from cooperating with interstate investigations attempting to pursue civil or criminal penalties associated with gender-affirming health care.

“Trans people all over the country are looking at New Jersey as a beacon of hope, a place where to receive services and not fear that their state government will investigate and find out this information. They are protected,” says Fuscarino

The order also prohibits a person from being extradited to another state after traveling to New Jersey for treatment.

So far, a dozen states have limited or banned gender-affirming care and more than a dozen other states are considering bills to limit it.