On Veteran’s Day we wish to thank every member of the forces for their sacrifice and commitment to our country. A career in the military can open opportunities and change a person’s life and today we celebrate each and every member for their service. As a nation that holds freedom and bravery in high regard, today we must also recognize that discriminating against transgender people who are ready and able to serve their country goes against our country’s values. Transgender people are twice as likely to be veterans as the rest of the US population. According to the 2015 US Transgender Survey ..read more

On October 8, 2019, three momentous cases were argued in the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) that every American should care about as the outcome will directly impact the lives and well-being of millions of LGBTQ + workers. The legal issue being argued is whether Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VII), which protects employees against sex discrimination, also protects gay and transgender employees from discrimination in the workplace. Artwork by Art Lien, Courtroom Artist You might think this issue has already been settled because you live in a state or city that ha ..read more

Tomorrow, October 8th, the Supreme Court of the United States will hear oral arguments on three separate LGBTQ+ workplace discrimination cases. The issue before the Court is whether employers can legally discriminate against LGBTQ+ employees under federal law. The court’s decision could have sweeping implications for the LGBTQ+ community or anyone that does not subscribe to traditional and outdated definitions of gender and gender expression. Whichever way the court goes, tomorrow is set to be one of the biggest days in LGBTQ+ history and it’s important to know the facts: The Current Status o ..read more

"If I could choose an amendment to add to the Constitution, it would be the Equal Rights Amendment. I think we have achieved that through legislation, but legislation can be repealed, it can be altered. So I would like my granddaughters, when they pick up the Constitution, to see that notion – that women and men are persons of equal stature – I’d like them to see that is a basic principle of our society.” - Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg Ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) would enshrine equal rights as a core value in our Constitution, finally providing an explicit guarantee of pro ..read more

You’ve likely seen mentions of Women’s Equality Day (WED) on your social media and in your email today. You’re not alone if you’ve wondered what WED is or why we are celebrating it. Or, like us, maybe you’re struggling with reconciling commemorating a day recognized as a feat in the women’s equality movement, with the fact that the movement excluded black, poor, and non-cis women. Let’s hash it out together: “What Is Today Even About? I Thought We Celebrated Women’s Day In March??” Today, August 26th, celebrates the passage of the 19th Amendment to the US Constitution prohibiting states and t ..read more

"The way to right wrongs is to turn the light of truth upon them." - Ida B. Wells The passage of the 19th Amendment, August 26th, 1920, celebrated today as “Women’s Equality Day”, is to be remembered in American History as a landmark achievement made possible after decades of unyielding advocacy efforts by activists, Susan B. Anthony, Elizabeth C. Stanton, Sojourner Truth, Lucretia Mott, Harriet Purvis, Alice Paul, Carrie Chapman Catt and many others whose names, but not their deeds, remain dormant in the archives of time. With the annual celebration of Women’s Equality Day, we grapple with r ..read more

Pay equality has been the talk of the town recently, but it is no secret that women earn less than men across most, if not all, occupations for doing similar work. But good news! In July, workers in New York who allege wage discrimination by their employers have a new set of tools at their disposal as a result of legislation requiring equal pay regardless of one’s salary history or membership of a protected class. Governor Cuomo signed the equal pay bills in New York City just ahead of a ticker tape parade celebrating the U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team (USWNT), players from which have sued ..read more

On Monday, Governor Cuomo signed a set of amendments to the New York State Human Rights Law (NYSHRL), providing stronger protections for women, LGBTQ individuals, and all other classes protected under the law. The Gender Equality Law Center worked with coalitions of employment lawyers, women’s rights advocates, and other organizations to support this progressive change for all New Yorkers. Ending Severe or Pervasive One of the most impactful amendments is the removal of the "severe or pervasive" standard. In New York, in order for employers to be held accountable for sexual harassment, the con ..read more

In June, the New York State Legislature passed a set of amendments to the New York State Human Rights Law, providing stronger protections for women, LGBT individuals, and all other classes protected under the law. The Gender Equality Law Center worked with coalitions of employment lawyers, women’s rights advocates, and other organizations to support this progressive change for all New Yorkers, which Governor Cuomo is expected to sign into law soon. The bill amends the State Human Rights Law to apply to all employers in the state, including those with only one employee (previously the law only ..read more

It is well known that transgender and gender non-conforming people of color were essential to the Stonewall Riots on June 28th, 1969. These riots are an iconic piece of history in the LGBTQIA+ rights movement. In celebration of the 50th anniversary of Stonewall, GELC is honoring the transgender and gender-nonconforming leaders of the LGBTQIA+ movement and taking a look at the rights of trans and gender-fluid individuals in 1969 and today. GELC also created a video highlighting some of our LGBTQ GNC clients, featuring interviews about their experiences facing discrimination on account of their ..read more