Five LGBTQ+ Changemakers Are Leading the Charge in New Jersey

In this Summer 2024 issue of Jersey’s Best, Sills Cummis Member Thomas Prol is featured in an article highlighting five LGBTQ+ community leaders in New Jersey who are positive changemakers. The following is seen in the article:

Thomas H. Prol, first openly gay leader of the New Jersey State Bar Association

In his storied history as a longtime LGBTQ advocate, Tom Prol has seen a lot of change. These days, “it’s a different world,” he said. “I joke that I was gay back before it was cool to be gay.”

In fact, Prol was one of the original directors of Garden State Equality when the organization began in February 2004. GSE recently celebrated its 20th anniversary in Asbury Park.

Since 2004, Prol has been one of New Jersey’s foremost legal advocates in the fight for equal rights. He was instrumental in educating the New Jersey public about the problem with domestic partnerships and civil unions, which other states didn’t recognize or honor. He stood before the state’s Supreme Court several times as the battle for marriage equality continued.

The capstone to this long fight? Prol co-wrote New Jersey’s Marriage Equality legislation, which Gov. Phil Murphy signed into law on Jan. 10, 2022.

Prol’s list of honors and titles is extensive. A “greatest hits” list might include his roles as the first openly gay leader of the New Jersey State Bar Association, vice chair of the National LGBT Bar Association (formerly the National Lesbian and Gay Law Association), director of the LGBT Bar Association of Greater New York, and Chair of the New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission.

Yet Prol’s work isn’t over yet. His legal advocacy work continues with antibullying legislation and protection of transgender people, especially youth. “It’s such a vulnerable, at-risk community,” he said. “When I see vulnerable people at risk, I end up in a privileged space as a tall white guy who can step in. I try to lend what little credit and ability I have to protecting and advocating for, and reducing the trauma risk and psychological harm, that people try to inflict on the weak, the vulnerable and other.”

This Pride season, Prol hopes to see a world where that harm no longer exists: “We look forward to creating that better, safer, more loving and compassionate world for the community. And to leave nobody behind.”