“The Trump administration’s plan to exclude transgender individuals from civil rights is inhumane ‒ plain and simple. I have a message to all who identify as transgender and/or gender non-conforming: I know you are afraid and angry. Please know that we will fight for you and alongside you. We will have your backs and will continue to protect your human rights and civil liberties.

“I want to also note that even as the federal administration tries to roll back recognition and protections of transgender and gender non-conforming individuals under federal civil rights law, this City has been making its own anti-discrimination law more protective.

“Our city’s human rights law is the strongest in the nation, protecting all New Yorkers from discrimination, harassment and retaliation on the basis of gender identity in the workplace, housing, and public accommodations.

“To that end, the New York City Human Rights Law defines gender as ‘actual or perceived sex, gender identity and gender expression, including a person’s actual or perceived gender-related self-image, appearance, behavior, expression or other gender-related characteristic, regardless of the sex assigned to that person at birth.’ As such, our definition of gender explicitly protects transgender and gender non-conforming individuals from discrimination.

“In addition, the Council has been at the forefront of protecting transgender individuals by establishing the first ever Trans Equity Initiative, which supports a range of services to help empower the transgender and gender non-conforming community.

“I know this is a stressful time, and people are rightly worried about this latest assault on our civil rights. But I can promise New Yorkers that despite what this federal government says or does, this City will always defend the rights of people who are transgender and/or gender non-conforming.”

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