Transgender and nonbinary community members now have access to lawyers to advise them through the process of changing their name to legally affirm their gender identity under a partnership with Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Rahway, an RWJBarnabas Health facility, and the law firm of McCarter & English.
Attorneys from McCarter & English will provide free legal advice to guide individuals seeking a name change. This life-altering work is meaningful because identification documents are required for all aspects of everyday life, such as jobs, housing, health care and public benefits.
“People who lack identification documents that match their preferred name and gender identity may avoid seeking jobs, health care services and benefits for fear of being outed as transgender, which could expose them to discrimination and victimization,” Patrick Koslecki, director of diversity and inclusion at RWJUH Rahway, stated.
“We firmly believe everyone has the right to accurate identification. We are delighted to continue our work in this space by partnering with RWJUH Rahway to serve patients through the name and gender marker change process,” McCarter & English Partner Natalie Watson said.
Partnering with McCarter & English, RWJUH Rahway is taking the lead in the care of LGBTQ+ individuals along with other RWJBarnabas Health facilities, including RWJUH Somerset’s Babs Siperstein PROUD Center, RWJUH New Brunswick’s PROUD Gender Center and the recently opened PROUD Center at Community Medical Center in Toms River.
The name change clinic will be held once a month by appointment only, starting in October, from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Rahway, 865 Stone St., Rahway. Clinic dates are Oct. 10, Nov. 14, and Dec. 5. For appointments, call 732-499-6024 or email NameChangeRAH@RWJBH.org.
