LGBT NEWS: New NYC Unity Project
NEW YORK, NY – Tuesday, September 19th, 2017 First Lady Chirlane McCray announces the NYC Unity Project as a citywide a new $4.8 million initiative to support lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) youth. You likely know her name as McCray, the First Lady of New York City, is the wife of current New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio. Moreover, she is an American writer, editor, communications professional, and political figure.
The NYC Unity Project is creating change on a large scale by partnering with 16 participating agencies. The project’s aim is to provide a community-based approach to address unique daily struggles that LGBT youth, invest more in LGBT resources, and create programs to advance awareness and understanding.
Such attention is needed for the city’s LGBT youth as a 2015 Youth Count Report showed that over half of NYC’s homeless and unstably housed youth identify as LGBT. Additionally, the New York Commission on Human Rights reports a 60% increase in reported discrimination and harassment in 2017 and a 30%increase in claims concerning gender identity and sexual orientation.
“It is critical for LGBTQ youth to feel loved, accepted, and supported in their own communities in order to lead happy, healthy, and productive lives, including in their homes and places of worship,” explained Commissioner of the NYC Human Rights Commission.
Referencing the growing concern for the LGBT community, McCray stated, “With dangerous rhetoric and hateful policies coming from the White House and its allies. LGBT New Yorkers are on constant alert … their rights hang in the balance.”
One way that the NYC Unity Project will help is by establishing a second 24-hour youth drop-in center in Jamaica, Queens that will open next month specializing in LGBT services. Marsha’s House, the first LGBT-specific shelter in the adult system, was opened in early 2017 and already provides LGBT services and resources.
Additionally, the NYC Unity Project plans on certifying more than 500 physicians in providing focused medical care to the LGBT community and training at least 50 health care providers to provide clinical care and transition care.
Moreover, the NYC Unity Project has the goal of having single-occupancy restrooms in every NYC school by January 2018.
The NYC Unity Project is on the right track to helping combat discrimination and support the LGBT community. In general, NYC has amazing protects that go far beyond federal law or the laws of other states. For instance, if you are an individual living or working in New York City, you have additional protects under New York City Human Rights Law that go far beyond federal or state law. Such New Yorkers are protected from employment discrimination based on the following protected classes: age alienage or citizenship status, arrest or conviction record, caregiver, color, credit history, disability, gender, gender identity, marital or partnership status, national origin, pregnancy, childbirth, pregnancy-related medical conditions, race religion/creed, sexual orientation, status as victim of domestic violence, sexual violence, or stalking unemployment status
What does this mean for you? Well, New York City Human Rights Law prohibits discrimination in: hiring, firing, work assignments, salary, benefits, promotions, performance evaluations, discipline, and any other decisions that affect the terms and conditions of employment. additionally, employers cannot make statements, ask questions during interviews, or circulating job announcements that suggest a preference for or prejudice against individuals based on the any of the above protected classes under the law.
If you feel like you have experienced sexual harassment in the workplace, or you need legal help contact the experienced New York City discrimination and sexual harassment attorneys at the Derek Smith Law Group, PLLC. We have recovered millions on behalf of our clients who were discriminated against because of their gender. If you feel you have been discriminated against because of your gender, please give our attorneys a call at (800) 807-2209 for your free consultation.
