Garden State Equality is moving its headquarters from Montclair to Asbury Park.
MONTCLAIR -- The state's leading advocacy group for the gay community is moving, because ironically, Garden State Equality's leadership says its headquarters wasn't accessible to all people.
"Our current office is located in Montclair on the second floor of the Congregational Church's office building. The building opened in 1920 and is beautiful, but unfortunately it is only accessible via a stairwell," Garden State Equality Executive Director Christian Fuscarino said in a July 15 Facebook message announcing the relocation.
"We cannot be an organization that promotes inclusion when some people cannot even access our office."
So, he said, the organization is moving its base to an ADA-compliant space in Asbury Park that can be accessed by handicapped visitors, as well as anyone else who wants to enter the space. The group will still use its building in Montclair, Fuscarino said in the post, but primary operations will move to Asbury Park, which he promoted as centrally-located and "easy to get to" from most of New Jersey.
"Asbury Park has a long history as an LGBT gathering place, a place where many LGBT New Jerseyans have gone to find safety and community even before the start of our movement," the post said.
"(It) is only fitting that Asbury Park will become our new home."
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According to a NorthJersey.com article, Garden State Equality has been in Montclair since 2004. The organization played a key role in New Jersey's 2013 legalization of gay marriage. It has since moved on to other related advocacy work, like creating safe environments for LGBT youth and transgender people, the group says.
Fuscarino, who grew up in and around Monmouth County, was appointed to lead the advocacy group in April. The move was lauded by many officials at the time.
"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," Sen. Cory Booker said in a statement about his appointment at the time.
Fuscarino said the headquarters move was one of the first things he knew he wanted to change when taking over the group.
Jessica Mazzola may be reached at jmazzola@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @JessMazzola. Find NJ.com on Facebook.