May 21, 2025, 11:07 a.m. EST

Bergen County GSA whole-heartedly supports the Garden State Equality Workers Union.

Creating change is not just about saying you want change and fighting bigotry is not just about saying that bigotry is bad. Creating change is about action. But one person alone does not create change. People together create change. The power of collective bargaining and working together with your peers is what makes the world a better place for everyone in it.

The rights of LGBTQIA+ people, especially youth, are increasingly under attack in all walks of life by all levels of government. Unions are one of the best and most important ways for people to stand together and fight for their rights and, by extension, the rights of everyone. Unions are a rejection of the powers that seek to strip people of their freedoms and are an incredible tool for fighting back.

We recognize this—the struggle of workers to be treated fairly and to have their voices heard—and hope that Garden State Equality will rise to the occasion and work with the Garden State Equality Workers Union to create a better, more inclusive, and more fair environment for all of their workers.

     - Addison Almagor (they/it), Bergen County GSA board member