There’s been a change in leadership at Garden State Equality, New Jersey’s most impactful statewide LGBTQ+ advocacy organization, following a scandal in the previous executive director’s personal life.
Christian Fuscarino, 35 — who had served as the organization’s executive director since 2016, was arrested on Nov. 21, 2025 and faces child endangerment and assault charges following an incident that took place at his home in Neptune (a shore town in North Jersey near Asbury Park).
Fuscarino, who was serving as a “resource parent” (a foster parent), allegedly pulled a child who was in his care out of bed, struck the child with an open hand across the face multiple times, and pushed the child into a wall. According to court documents, Fuscarino admitted to child welfare workers that an “episode of physical contact” had occurred. The incident, which took place on Nov. 9, was captured on a home surveillance camera and witnessed by someone else living in the home.
“Garden State Equality takes allegations against our staff seriously and we oppose violence of any kind,” reads a statement released by the organization on Dec. 16. “When we learned about the charge against Mr. Fuscarino, we immediately placed him on leave. We respect the courts and will allow that process to be handled by them. We will continue our important work with our acting Executive Director.”
In his own statement, Fuscarino noted that he resigned from his position to ensure that the organization’s work is not impacted by what he called “a private family matter.”
“While my loved ones & I have been working through this moment together with care and love, the press has turned a deeply personal situation into a public headline,” he posted to his social media accounts. “Everyone involved is safe & navigating this situation responsibly.”
“Out of respect — not for me, but for my family — I ask that this be seen for what it is: a private family moment, not a public spectacle,” his statement continued.
“For anyone concerned, please know that everyone is safe and no physical harm was caused,” reads a statement released by Fuscarino’s lawyer. “Consistent with the values he has brought to every cause he ever championed, Christian remains focused on doing the right thing and becoming a better person.”
A pre-indictment conference is scheduled for late February 2026.
The page dedicated to Fuscarino’s professional bio has been removed from the organization’s website.
Brielle Winslow-Majette — a New Jersey native who describes herself as a bearded, Black masc lesbian woman — is now serving as Garden State Equality’s acting executive director. She previously served as the deputy director of Garden State Equality before the change in leadership.
She has a degree in social and behavioral sciences and previously spent 10 years as the program director of a YMCA — where she was an active member of the association’s DEI committee and LGBTQ+ cohort and was developing an LGBTQ+ youth development and mentorship program before joining the leadership team at Garden State Equality.
The organization canceled its annual holiday party and pledged to donate all funds raised for the event to “youth-serving organizations.”
“The Garden State Equality team will use this time for reflection, and we look forward to gathering with our community in the new year to refocus on the work ahead of us,” Winslow-Majette said in a statement.
“Our priority has always been, and will remain, advocating for LGBTQ+ communities in New Jersey to experience lived equality,” she told Out in New Jersey.
A volunteer orientation appears to be on as scheduled for Dec. 29 and the organization is otherwise operating as usual. It has also employed an outside law firm to conduct a comprehensive review of its operations and make recommendations based on findings.
“We understand that recent news about our former executive director may have you shaken. It has us shaken, too. We as a team are still processing this situation,” reads an additional statement the organization published on their website on Dec. 22, which has since been deleted. “That said, we want to reassure you that regardless of what has happened, our current team remains dedicated to and focused on our work serving LGBTQ+ communities across New Jersey.”
“We cannot and will not allow someone who is no longer on our team keep us from doing the crucial work that needs to be done to defend lived and legal equality in New Jersey,” the statement continues. “We have full faith that together, our team and our communities will continue this crucial work. Garden State Equality will continue to fulfill our mission in the same way we have for over 20 years.”
In the Dec. 22 statement, the organization also celebrated a unanimous decision by the state’s general assembly to pass a bill that will make it easier to access HIV medications. Gov. Phil Murphy has not made the law official yet, but once he signs the piece of legislation, pharmacists will be permitted to dispense PrEP and PEP without the need for an individual prescription. The bill, which was approved the same day as the statement, also mandates that prescription benefits cover HIV medications.
“This happened because of Garden State Equality members like you contacting your legislators, as well as years of tireless advocacy by our staff and our colleagues in HIV policy and pharmaceuticals,” the statement notes. “Our team continues to push relentlessly to move equality forward in New Jersey, regardless of what else might be happening.”
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