This Just In: THE MARSHA AND SYLVIA PLAN
Presently, there is no coordinated, municipal-level agenda aimed at addressing the myriad needs of the diverse, multifaceted LGBTQIA+ community in New York City. Many city-level elected officials may not know how to provide support other than marching in Pride once a year, issuing statements decrying homophobic and transphobic attacks, hosting a Drag Story Hour at a local library near them, and putting a Progress Pride Flag in their office.
To be clear, these are important and helpful actions that help raise visibility of LGBTQIA+ people and show them that their local elected officials support them. But hese actions do not advance substantive measures to address systemic issues facing LGBTQIA+ people in New York City.
This report aims to make it easy for allies within city government to understand what LGBTQIA+ folks need and what lawmakers can do to meet those needs across 9 different issue areas: Arts & Culture; Education; Government Operations; Health; Housing & Homelessness; Older Adults; Public Safety; Sex Work; and Youth & Foster Care.
This report and the accompanying legislation has the potential to set a new gold standard in terms of TLGBQ+ human rights in major cities across the U.S.
STARR extends our heartfelt gratitude to members of the Caucus for their tireless work in crafting such a thoughtful, groundbreaking report, just in time for Pride.
New York City has been the unofficial home of the global TLGBQ+ community for over a century. People of all ages and backgrounds have traveled here from every corner of the globe seeking the promise of safety, sanctuary and a chance to fulfill their full potential as humans.
We join the caucus in their efforts urging state and federal agencies to protect critical Trans and Ballroom history currently threatened by ongoing development, by participating in renewed inventory of all sites and districts in NYC eligible to be listed on the national register of historic places.
We are equally thrilled to find additional protections for Trans youth, TGNC folk experiencing poverty and homelessness, as well as first in the nation protections for sex workers.
This report is exactly what we need right now.
Well done!
-Mariah Lopez Ebony