LID Thanks NY City Council for Passing Bills to Protect Gender-Affirming Care

On April 24, the New York City Council passed a suite of bills aimed at protecting gender-affirming care and making NYC a safe haven for transgender, gender non-conforming, non-binary, and/or intersex (TGNCNBI) people. LID applauds the passage of this legislation and stands firmly with our local community champions in ensuring that New York City remains a safe haven and a beacon of hope for TGNCNBI people across the country. At a time when the Trump Administration is ripping apart civil rights protections and supports for trans and queer communities in every way possible, it is more important than ever for local and state leaders to stand up against the cruelty and hatred emanating from the White House, and we are grateful that the City Council is rising to the challenge.


These bills and resolutions will:


  • Require the Mayor’s Office to publicly disseminate information about rights and resources for TGNCNBI people

  • Make it easier for TGNCBI individuals to take legal action if anti-trans governments or private entities attempt to interfere in their care

  • Require the Mayor’s Office to develop a plan for services and supports for TGNCNBI immigrants

  • Require DOHMH to develop a health agenda for the TGNCNBI community

  • Require City agencies to include an “X” gender option on City forms

  • Call on Governor Hochul to sign legislation (passed by both houses of the Legislature) that would protect the private health information of TGNCNBI people

  • Call on the New York State Department of Health to require hospitals to adhere to the World Professional Association for Transgender Health’s Standards of Care 8, to ensure that anyone needing support receives gender-affirming care based on sound science, justice, and dignity

  • Call on the State Legislature to pass, and the Governor to sign, legislation blocking federal access to the state’s Prescription Monitoring Program for medications relevant to reproductive justice and gender-affirming care

  • Call on the State Legislature to pass, and the Governor to sign, additional protections protecting the privacy of sensitive health information, including information relevant to abortion and gender-affirming care


Taken together, these bills represent a firm stand for justice and equality from our City Council – LID is pleased to support all of them and thrilled that they will soon become law. We are particularly grateful to the Council’s LGBTQIA+ Caucus and its co-chairs, Erik Bottcher and Tiffany Cabán – they may be from Manhattan and Queens, but they still deserve a shout-out! And of course, we are grateful to our Brooklyn LGBTQIA+ Caucus champions (and longtime LID supporters) Crystal Hudson and Chi Ossé, who continue to do the work every day. We are also grateful to Brooklyn Councilmember Shahana Hanif – a strong ally to our community who was a key part of getting this legislation protecting gender-affirming care passed.


Making sure our local leaders and institutions uphold the rights and dignity of TGNCNBI individuals and communities continues to be critical as the federal assault on trans and queer rights continues. LID is thrilled that these bills have passed, and look forward to continue to work with the City Council and community leaders in Brooklyn and beyond to keep New York City a safe haven and a welcoming place for TGNCNBI people.


Lambda Independent Democrats of Brooklyn