Ciattarelli supporter calls for end to same-sex marriage, says he’s not ‘taking money from Jews’

Election 2025

A campaign supporter and fundraiser for Republican gubernatorial candidate Jack Ciattarelli during a recent event called for an end to same-sex marriage, and further said he is not “taking money from Jews.”

Dr. Ibrar Nadeem, a Ciattarelli fundraiser and supporter for Muslim relations, made the remarks at an Oct. 18 “Muslims4JackToo” event in Piscataway, Middlesex County.

In a video of the event posted online, Nadeem told those in attendance, who responded with applause and laughter: “We want a ban on same-sex marriage, and I know my brother (Ciattarelli) voted against it, and he will do it again. … A family comes into place when a man and women gets married. We oppose same-sex marriage.”

Nadeem went on to say, “Somebody said, ‘You are taking money from Jews.’ I check my bank account every day, brother. It is not there.”

Asked for a response to Nadeem’s comments, the Ciattarelli campaign provided the candidate’s post on the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter. In it, he addressed his opponent, Democrat Mikie Sherrill, directly.

“Do you ever get tired of lying @Mikie Sherrill? You know I support same sex marriage. You also know the full clip of Dr. Nadeem’s remarks are clear: He was talking about the grief he gets from some BECAUSE of my unwavering support for the Jewish community and Israel and his own efforts to build bridges between Muslim and non-Muslim communities.

“Your desperate lies will backfire. NJ’s Jewish community doesn’t need lectures from Mamdani supporters like you who didn’t even have the moral courage to stand with Israel. Shame on you for, once again, trying to divide people more with lies.” Zohran Mamdani is a New York City mayoral candidate.

Ciattarelli voted against same-sex marriage as an assemblyman in the New Jersey Legislature. His campaign did not respond to a request for clarification.

Sherrill characterized Nadeem’s comments as the values leading Ciattarelli’s campaign, calling that “unacceptable” and adding it’s “disqualifying” that the candidate refuses to condemn what Nadeem said. Sherill said Ciattarelli must condemn Nadeem’s “antisemitic and homophobic” remarks and fire him.

“Throughout my career, I have never hesitated to condemn this type of rhetoric, regardless of what party it comes from, and that’s what New Jersey should be able to expect from their next governor. This type of speech has no place in our state and I unequivocally denounce it,” Sherrill said. 

She further stated that New Jersey deserves better from anyone running for the state’s most powerful position.

LGBTQ civil rights groups also weighed in on Nadeem’s remarks.

Garden State Equality, New Jersey’s largest LGBTQ civil rights organization, condemned the comments and also Ciattarelli for not denouncing them. “I’ve seen my fair share of political dog whistles and ugly attacks, but the video I just saw made my stomach turn,” GSE Executive Director Christian Fuscarino said in a mass email to organization supporters. He called the comments “hate speech masquerading as politics.”

“Every time someone running for office stays quiet while people in their circle spew this garbage, it tells queer people, trans people, Jewish people, and Muslim people that our dignity is negotiable. That our families are up for debate. That the progress we’ve made can be undone,”  Fuscarino said, adding that this moment must not be met with silence, but with action.

Asked what action GSE is going to take and what strategy it is implementing, Fuscarino told Out In Jersey: “Garden State Equality will be mobilizing our members, allies, and partner organizations across New Jersey to make sure every voter understands exactly what’s at stake in this election.

“…Our strategy is simple: shine a light on hate wherever it hides and remind New Jersey what we stand for — love, dignity, and equality for all families,” Furscarino said, adding that what Nadeem said “was a glimpse into a dangerous agenda,” that GSE will not allow anyone to roll back marriage equality and that the organization will not let anyone “pit communities against each other for political gain.”

NJDEMS LGBTQ+ Caucus Chair Lauren Albrecht in a Facebook post called on the Ciattarelli campaign to denounce “the homophobia and antisemitism espoused by Dr. Nadeem,” although adding that the caucus isn’t holding its breath.

“It’s 2025, and the Jack campaign still opposes same-sex marriage, a reminder that our fight for equality is far from over,” Albrecht said in the post, calling the stance “out of touch, outdated, and out of step.” She added that LGBTQ people are not going back.

The comments sparked fear and outrage in the LGBTQ community.

Melissa Firstenberg, a Jewish trans woman who lives in the Marlton section of Evesham Township in Burlington County, said she will have to leave the state and will likely go to Vermont if Ciattarelli wins, and she added that she is also considering moving to Western Europe.

“I am scared,” said Firstenberg. “I am scared because the current climate in this country is one where it’s been made OK to be publicly hateful again.” She added that it is now OK to hate people based on their religion, race, national origin, gender, and sexuality.

“That is not making America great again; that is making America hate again,” she said.

“The big thing is we can’t do this alone. … We need our allies now more than ever to stand up and say, ‘This is wrong, and we stand with you.’ And then we need them to vote the way they stand.”

In addition to the reaction in the state, the Human Rights Campaign, the nation’s largest LGBTQ civil rights organization, responded.

Reg Calcagno, HRC campaign director of national campaigns, said in a statement that it should be shocking that Ciattarelli “proudly supported” the remarks, which were made in his presence.

“But it’s no surprise. This is who Jack has always been — previously voting to oppose same-sex marriage in New Jersey and following the MAGA lead on his anti-LGBTQ+ views,” Calcagno said. He added that the state deserves better and that the HRC is “doing everything possible” to ensure Sherrill will be elected the next governor.