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New York City Council
Oversight topic - Commission on Human Rights Disability Enforcement Trends
Read summaries and jump into the video at the segment start.
Council staff asks attendees to settle down, silence electronics, and explains how to testify. They instruct the public not to approach the dais and turn the meeting over to the chair.
Council Member Shahana Hanif introduces herself as chair of the Committee on Disabilities and describes her appearance. She welcomes attendees to the joint oversight hearing with the Committee on Civil and Human Rights on disability discrimination enforcement at CCHR.
Hanif notes millions of New Yorkers live with disabilities and disability is now the most common basis of claims filed with CCHR. She says strong protections on paper mean little if New Yorkers cannot access them in practice.
Hanif describes a CCHR ruling involving a tenant who spent more than four years requesting a ramp or lift and died before it was installed. She says accessibility delayed is accessibility denied and delays can have irreversible consequences.
Hanif says a December 2025 state comptroller audit found housing discrimination cases took over two years on average. She notes CCHR does not publicly report how long disability cases take or what outcomes complainants receive.
Hanif lists questions about CCHR's 2026 reorganization, implementation of comptroller recommendations, coordination with MOPD, translation of guidance into enforcement, and needed resources or reforms. She says the hearing will also cover four pieces of legislation.
Hanif describes Intro 131, sponsored by Council Member Tiffany Caban, to amend the definition of gender in the Human Rights Law. She also introduces Intro 1107, which she sponsors, to require guidance and public education on service animal access.
Hanif describes Reso 510, sponsored by Council Member Julie Won, to declare June 18 Autistic Pride Day. She also introduces Reso 665, which she sponsors, calling on the U.S. Senate to ratify the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
Hanif acknowledges Council Members Caban and Epstein and thanks the administration, advocates, service providers, and public. She thanks committee staff including Sarah Sucher, Chloe Rivera, Emma Teran, Simone Lavin, and Teyuta Muai.
Council Member Sandy Nurse, chair of Civil and Human Rights, thanks co-chair Hanif and notes disability is the most common basis of claims. She says CCHR is a small agency with a large mandate and its work is an issue of economic justice.
Nurse responds to the story of a tenant who died waiting for an accommodation and says justice delayed is justice denied. She hopes the hearing will show how CCHR resources and structure affect access to housing, employment, and daily necessities.
Nurse says discrimination can have a detrimental snowball effect, such as someone unable to leave home then losing work. She says some situations become emergencies that cost people their health or lives.
Nurse says she is curious how CCHR responded to the comptroller audit and how internal changes affect resolution times. She looks forward to hearing about CCHR's disability enforcement, education, testing, and work with MOPD.
Council Member Tiffany Caban introduces herself and thanks Chairs Nurse and Hanif for holding the hearing. She says as a New Yorker with chronic illness she is grateful for their leadership and that her bill Intro 131 protects intersex New Yorkers from discrimination.
Caban says Intro 131 would ensure the human rights law protects intersex New Yorkers. She thanks Interact and directly impacted people for working on the legislation and describes discrimination, denial of health care, and hate violence faced by intersex people.
Hanif reads a statement from Council Member Julie Won supporting Resolution 510. The statement thanks Chairs Hanif and Nurse and credits autistic self-advocate Gary Oye-Steven for sparking the bill.
The statement says autism presents differently for every person and no one should be reduced to a diagnosis. It describes how Aspies for Freedom created Autistic Pride Day in 2005 as a counter to Autism Awareness Month narratives.
The statement says autism and neurodivergence are not problems to be solved but communities to celebrate. It describes the rainbow infinity symbol and says Reso 510 would declare June 18 Autistic Pride Day in New York City.
The statement thanks Autistic Adults NYC, Brooklyn Center for Independence of the Disabled, Autistic Self-Advocacy Network, AHRC, and New York Lawyers for the Public Interest. It says recognizing the day affirms that institutions and communities are stronger when they include neurodivergent individuals.
Hanif calls Deputy Commissioner JoAnn Kamuf Ward, Assistant Commissioner Stephanie Rivera, and Deputy Commissioner Belkis Morig to be sworn. Staff asks them to raise their right hands and affirm to tell the truth.
JoAnn Kamuf Ward, Deputy Commissioner for Policy and Legislative Affairs at CCHR, thanks the committees and introduces Stephanie Rivera and Belkis Morig. She underscores CCHR's commitment to ensuring New Yorkers with disabilities can live free from discrimination.
Kamuf Ward says CCHR uses education, outreach, investigations, and litigation to prevent and remedy discrimination. She explains CCHR investigates complaints, resolves matters before formal complaints, and develops Know Your Rights materials.
Kamuf Ward says the Human Rights Law prohibits discrimination in work, housing, and public places and requires reasonable accommodations absent undue hardship. She says accommodations can include policy changes, workplace adjustments, ramps, or lifts and require a cooperative dialogue.
Kamuf Ward says disability claims were the most common type of claim in FY26 across employment, housing, and public accommodations. She describes pre-complaint interventions, Project Equal Access, and testing as tailored enforcement tools.
Kamuf Ward says violations can lead to modifications, policy changes, damages, and civil penalties. She highlights FY26 resolutions including a ramp installation and $122,000 in emotional distress damages plus back rent.
Kamuf Ward describes another case where housing providers agreed to 14 months of rental credit and an accessible apartment transfer. She says CCHR couples enforcement with Human Rights Law 101 trainings and community partnerships.
Kamuf Ward says CCHR works with community organizations, advocates, elected officials, businesses, and housing providers. She mentions the Disability Unite Festival and Disability Pride Parade as examples of outreach with MOPD and the Public Advocate.
Kamuf Ward says CCHR supports the explicit reference to intersex traits in Intro 131, consistent with existing interpretation and guidance. On Intro 1107, she says CCHR supports the intent but the administration is still reviewing which agency should lead.
Kamuf Ward says CCHR remains committed to ensuring New Yorkers with disabilities understand and can exercise their rights. She says covered entities must know their responsibilities and meaningful remedies must be available when discrimination occurs.
Hanif says the committees will go into questions and acknowledges Council Member Rita Joseph has joined. She says they will kick off with questions for MOPD.
Hanif asks what MOPD is responsible for when a New Yorker reports disability discrimination and when CCHR takes over. Belkis Morig says CCHR has prime purview, MOPD is not an enforcement agency, and MOPD refers discrimination complaints to CCHR or Project Equal Access.
Hanif asks whether MOPD can share how many people filled out its form or called its phone line. Morig says the phone line is busy but the prior administration did not track calls and MOPD has referred at least 22 alleged discrimination claims to CCHR since July.
Hanif asks broadly what requests MOPD receives. Morig says the bulk of inquiries relate to housing, including physical accessibility and eviction threats, and MOPD generally refers those to CCHR.
Hanif notes CCHR's FY25 report highlighted collaboration with MOPD but FY26 did not mention MOPD. Kamuf Ward and Morig describe joint resources for small businesses, trainings, Disability Service Facilitator trainings, and outreach events.
Hanif asks whether referrals to CCHR have improved. Kamuf Ward describes warm handoffs to Project Equal Access, and Stephanie Rivera explains that Project Equal Access does site visits and may already have an open confidential matter.
Hanif asks how many staffers work solely on Project Equal Access. Rivera says the team has three members, with one recently added in the reorganization, and other intervention staff handle non-physical reasonable accommodation requests.
Hanif asks for a breakdown of the 22 referrals by employment, housing, and public accommodations. Kamuf Ward says she does not have the breakdown but believes most were housing, and agrees to follow up after the hearing.
Hanif asks for more detail on the warm handoff to CCHR. Kamuf Ward says people may contact Rivera or Project Equal Access directly, and CCHR tries to follow up with MOPD by email or phone and capture matters in its case management system.
Hanif asks whether CCHR can share tracker data after the hearing and whether MOPD tracks whether CCHR resolves referred cases. Kamuf Ward says the annual report numbers come from an internal database being improved, and Morig says MOPD does not track every referral outcome.
Hanif recommends MOPD track outcomes for referred cases to ensure resolutions. She then passes questioning to Council Member Harvey Epstein, who has to leave.
Epstein says housing discrimination cases are not being resolved quickly and a year is too long for people facing accessibility issues. Rivera says CCHR flags urgent matters for pre-complaint intervention and handles source of income and disability accommodation cases immediately.
Epstein asks how many source of income discrimination cases CCHR handled and how many resolved successfully. Rivera says she will get the numbers, and Kamuf Ward provides FY26 figures of 152 pre-complaint interventions and about 50 filed claims.
Epstein asks whether delays are staffing-related or due to unresponsive landlords. Rivera says the team is fully staffed at six members and source of income pre-complaint closures averaged under 30 days, while Kamuf Ward describes the reorganization and new non-attorney investigators.
Hanif notes about a quarter of housing voucher users are New Yorkers with disabilities and asks how many complaints involve both disability and source of income discrimination. Kamuf Ward says CCHR does not have that breakdown but will follow up.
Hanif asks how many CCHR attorneys have significant experience in disability and source of income cases. Rivera says there are 13 staff attorneys without specific specialties, and says CCHR evaluates both protections and considers disparate impact of source of income policies.
Nurse asks why disability claims have increased. Rivera says people are choosing CCHR over federal or state forums, especially as civil rights are under attack, and CCHR does extensive disability rights outreach.
Nurse notes 22 disability public accommodation claims reached filed complaints in FY26, up from 16. Rivera says it is underreporting, and CCHR also receives anonymous tips, including one that led to a commission-initiated action against Barnes & Noble.
Nurse asks how federal shifts affect dual filing agreements, disparate impact cases, and cooperation with the state human rights division. Kamuf Ward says CCHR stepped away from an EEOC dual filing contract to protect New Yorker data and continues to pursue disparate impact under city law.
Nurse asks whether employment disability complaints that would have been dual filed still reach a federal forum. Rivera says no, individuals must choose to go to the EEOC or federal court independently.
Nurse asks what prompted the December 2025 disability guidance update and how CCHR operationalized it. Kamuf Ward says CCHR updated guidance on AI decision-making, made it shorter and broken down by jurisdiction, and expanded service animal guidance.
Nurse asks what substantive changes have occurred since the July restructuring. Kamuf Ward says CCHR moved staff into enforcement, doubled the InfoLine to 16 people, created investigator roles, and is developing new processing guidelines and a new case management system.
Kamuf Ward says it will take time to see case processing impacts and ideally next year or the year after. Rivera says InfoLine staff are being trained to draft complaints over the phone and CCHR is focusing on moving cases to OATH judges faster.
Nurse asks whether CCHR expects to bring housing case processing back down to one year. Kamuf Ward says one year would be out of step with administrative agencies and courts, and case times depend on complexity and number of respondents.
Nurse asks how CCHR measures impacts of expanded intake, outreach, investigations, and strategic enforcement. Kamuf Ward says meaningful resolutions are the North Star and CCHR will revisit metrics as staffing changes emerge.
Nurse asks how many of 12 mediation cases were disability cases and whether mediation is appropriate for accommodations. Rivera says five disability matters were referred to mediation and mediation can still secure accommodations and damages.
Nurse thanks the witnesses and says she will return to questions later. She opens the floor to Council Member Caban for questions about her bill.
Caban asks how often CCHR receives inquiries about discrimination against intersex people and why people may or may not report. Kamuf Ward says gender is a broad category and CCHR may not have specific intersex data, but recognizes intersex discrimination in materials and guidance.
Caban shares an example of a colleague who came out as intersex later in life and asks how CCHR handles such cases. Kamuf Ward says internal guidance already treats intersex discrimination as covered and cases go to the Office of Civil Rights Enforcement for factual interviews.
Caban asks whether CCHR has heard feedback on shortcomings and whether it has trainings or materials on intersex issues. Kamuf Ward says Interact and Fordham Law Clinic raised the need for explicit statutory language and CCHR has a TGN-CBI training that can include this education.
Hanif asks whether CCHR is working on reports about source of income and disability discrimination. Kamuf Ward says CCHR does educational materials and is working on a Renters' Rights Guide, and Hanif encourages more research on the intersection.
Hanif asks whether MOPD ever intervenes directly with landlords, employers, or businesses. Morig says MOPD engages landlords on physical accessibility and refers discrimination issues to CCHR, and is forming an interagency working group on elevator delays.
Hanif asks what other trends require interagency coordination and whether MOPD has made formal recommendations. Morig cites elevator issues and school bus curb cuts, and says MOPD has not made formal recommendations but collaborates with CCHR.
Rivera says long elevator outages trigger reasonable accommodation obligations and Project Equal Access advocates for repairs, apartment transfers, temporary placements, or rent credits. Kamuf Ward adds that accessible design for small businesses is another area of interagency work.
Hanif asks whether CCHR has a mechanism to determine when a case is urgent and whether MOPD requests fast-tracking. Morig says MOPD flags urgent situations to Project Equal Access, and Rivera describes triage for physical harm, shelter, employment, and pregnancy cases.
Hanif asks about CCHR's current disability caseload and trends. Kamuf Ward says she does not have total pending disability cases, and Rivera says the main trends are physically inaccessible housing and public accommodations and remote work requests in employment.
Hanif asks which cases take longest and raises the example of a ramp that took four years. Rivera says case length is fact-intensive and depends on modifications, city agencies, and number of respondents.
Hanif asks whether the ramp can be built while CCHR gathers documentation from a challenging landlord. Rivera says CCHR often must wait for the landlord and does not have authority to physically erect the ramp.
Hanif asks whether policy reform is needed so ramps can be built despite landlord delays. Nurse notes other agencies like HPD can make emergency repairs and bill owners, and Kamuf Ward says this is an area for interagency discussion.
Hanif asks how long DOB typically takes to approve ramp permits. Rivera says prefabricated metal ramps can be done in weeks, while permanent fixtures can take six to nine months, and CCHR builds timelines into agreements.
Hanif asks whether businesses face the same process for ramps and accessibility accommodations. Rivera says yes, and Kamuf Ward notes public accommodations often involve both the store and building owner, adding more parties and cost questions.
Hanif says the city needs more reporting on public design and red tape around accessibility. She asks MOPD whether it has policy suggestions like enforceable deadlines or expedited review, and Morig says MOPD is building a policy team and everything is on the table.
Hanif thanks MOPD and passes questioning to Council Member Nurse for additional questions.
Nurse asks how many disability cases are resolved by settlement versus administrative closure. Rivera says FY26 had 22 disability settlements and 59 administrative closures, and explains reasons like inability to locate complainants, withdrawal, or lack of public interest.
Nurse asks why fewer cases are settling. Rivera says settlements are difficult to trend and depend on respondent cooperation and meaningful outcomes, while Kamuf Ward says attorneys are balancing settlements with trials and complex cases.
Nurse asks for an update on the legal technology expert and case management consultant. Kamuf Ward says the legal technology director has onboarded and is working with the Office of Civil Rights Enforcement, but procurement is a long process.
Nurse asks about CCHR testing numbers and what enforcement followed. Rivera says CCHR has about three part-time testers and a supervisor, and disability testing dipped while salary transparency and fair chance housing testing grew.
Nurse asks how CCHR decides where to spend testing resources and whether it considers medical offices, ride hail apps, or co-op boards. Rivera says testing is dictated by public complaints, anonymous tips, and potential broad impact.
Nurse asks why disability testing fell by a third while arrest record, credit history, and salary history testing grew. Rivera says the testing team is small and resources also support public-initiated complaints and strategic enforcement.
Nurse says it sounds like CCHR needs more resources, and Rivera says they can go further faster with more. Nurse notes the Council advocated for CCHR funding and ends her questions.
Hanif passes questioning to Council Member Rita Joseph and says she will return with a few more questions.
Joseph describes elevator outages in her district and asks what changes CCHR made after accepting the comptroller's recommendations. Kamuf Ward says CCHR renamed its enforcement office, moved staff into enforcement, and created dedicated training and community partnerships teams.
Joseph asks how accessible CCHR is for ASL, plain language, Braille, video, and screen readers, and for disabled New Yorkers who do not speak English. Rivera says CCHR has screen reader services, ASL interpreters, large print, Braille, multiple languages, and a vendor for translation.
Joseph asks whether CCHR is seeing more disability cases as federal civil rights offices scale back. Rivera says complaints and inquiries have increased, and explains remedies against city agencies include policy changes, trainings, and long-term monitoring.
Joseph asks how many remote accommodation complaints CCHR receives and whether it has seen AI hiring tool complaints. Rivera says she does not have remote work numbers but it is a trend, and Kamuf Ward says CCHR works with DCWP on the bias audit law but has not had disability-focused AI complaints.
Hanif asks about cases from city agency employees on remote work access. Rivera says she will circle back and mentions settlements with NYC Transit employees, and Kamuf Ward explains city employees first go through agency EEO processes and accommodations are job-specific.
Hanif asks how many complaints CCHR has received about inaccessible sidewalks, blocked curb cuts, or public right-of-way barriers. Kamuf Ward says CCHR does not have that number and will circle back, and says CCHR can provide some breakdowns of reasonable accommodation versus other claims.
Hanif asks what enforcement action CCHR takes when a landlord, employer, or business refuses a reasonable accommodation. Rivera says those cases move to probable cause and litigation at OATH, and repeat offenders face no pre-complaint intervention, higher civil penalties, and monitoring.
Hanif asks whether there is a public list of worst disability discrimination offenders. Kamuf Ward says the comptroller has an employee dashboard and CCHR is advocating to increase statutory maximum civil penalties because current caps may not deter.
Hanif asks how CCHR sets penalties and how often it pursues the maximum. Rivera says factors include public impact, size and sophistication of the bad actor, cooperation, and egregiousness, and explains the normal cap is $125,000 and maximum is $250,000 for willful and egregious violations.
Hanif asks how CCHR ensures settlements produce lasting accessibility improvements and who monitors compliance. Rivera says CCHR designated a monitoring clerk and attorneys supervise compliance, with deadlines for policies, training, and postings.
Hanif asks how many settlements are under active monitoring and how many New Yorkers received requested accommodations. Rivera says she will follow up on monitoring numbers, and Kamuf Ward says CCHR tracks whether matters resolved but not always the exact final accommodation.
Hanif notes the FY26 MMR credits Project Equal Access with a 70 percent rise in accessibility modifications. Rivera says the expansion was one additional full-time staff member, bringing the team to three.
Hanif asks who monitors policy changes or training when CCHR settles with a city agency and whether MOPD plays a role. Rivera says CCHR monitors those settlements, and Kamuf Ward says city employee accommodation denials first go through agency EEO processes and DCAS holds EEO information.
Hanif asks what education or training the city provides about service animal access and how it compares to Intro 1107. Kamuf Ward describes Human Rights Law 101, disability protections trainings, settlement-required trainings, and posters from the NYC Transit case and MOPD.
Hanif says those are all the questions and asks if the administration wants to share anything before public testimony. Kamuf Ward thanks the Council for the hearing and looks forward to continuing to work together.
Hanif thanks the witnesses and announces a five-minute break before returning to public testimony.
Hanif moves to public testimony and reminds attendees this is a government proceeding requiring decorum. She explains that witnesses get four minutes, written testimony can be submitted to the sergeant at arms or by email within 72 hours, and audio/video recordings are not accepted.
Hanif calls the first panel: Clement So, Monique Bourne, Jean Ryan, Mossa Miata, and Michael Ring. There is a brief discussion about microphone and ASL interpretation setup.
Clement So, executive director of the Metropolitan Asian Deaf Association, says CCHR lacks direct ASL video intake and centralized data on accessibility violations experienced by deaf residents. He says without direct video intake and systematic data collection, CCHR cannot measure disability discrimination or direct enforcement effectively.
So says MADA strongly supports Intro 1107 and urges plain language education, model language, and publication in citywide languages and accessible formats. He also supports the resolution calling on the Senate to ratify the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
Hanif moves to Monique Bourne, whose statement is read by an interpreter. Bourne says she reported disability-related barriers involving HRA and APS to CCHR in September 2025 but received no explained assessment or corrective intervention.
Bourne describes a disability set-aside apartment, a rent freeze, and landlord support for CityFEP, but says she faces a third non-payment proceeding. She asks the Council to scrutinize why preserving an existing home is so difficult and why access is concentrated after homelessness occurs.
Jean Ryan, president of Disabled in Action, says a Bay Ridge grocery store locked a gate during business hours, blocking wheelchair and walker users. She says CCHR took her case almost four years ago but nothing has legally stopped the store, and her emails to the commissioner have gone unanswered.
Ryan describes an Uber case brought by several people with disabilities that was taken individually and eventually discontinued with a $1,000 offer. She says she wanted access, not money, and questions why CCHR is not helping people with disabilities enforce their civil rights.
Michael Ring, vice president of Disabled in Action, says service animals are life-changing and not pets. He supports the city's educational campaign on service animals and describes confusion among poll workers about service animals versus pets.
Masa Mehta, representing the National Federation of the Blind of New York, says she has been denied entry and refused service at restaurants, retail stores, and public agencies because businesses do not know service animal rules. She supports Intro 1107 and says information must be accessible and service animal handlers must be involved in reviewing materials.
Hanif asks what is said when Mehta is denied entry with her guide dog. Mehta says no documentation is required, describes a restaurant hostess asking her to leave because other customers might be uncomfortable, and says denials also happen at grocery stores, malls, movie theaters, and public agencies.
Hanif asks whether the panel wants to amend Intro 1107. Mehta says the language is good and should stay broad, and Hanif asks the name of Mehta's service dog, who is Mandy.
Hanif thanks the first panel and calls the next panel: Gary Oye-Steven, Evan Yankey, Sherry Yvette Barnett, and Madeline Reichman.
Gary Oye-Steven, a CUNY student and autistic self-advocate, testifies in support of Resolution 510. He describes being socially and systemically excluded as an autistic and intellectually disabled person and as an Indonesian immigrant and queer trans individual.
Madeline Reichman, staff attorney at the Legal Aid Society and former CCHR attorney, says CCHR needs more funding to enforce disability protections in housing and shelter. She describes class actions against CAMBA and DHS and says disability discrimination is endemic in the shelter system.
Reichman says the city human rights law uniquely requires landlords to pay for physical modifications, unlike federal and state law. She says CCHR has only 13 attorneys and nine pre-complaint intervention staff, which is not enough to secure quick relief.
Evan Yankey, advocacy director at Brooklyn Center for Independence of the Disabled, says CCHR complaints often lead to years of inaction. He supports Intro 1107 but urges increased funding for MOPD, and supports Intro 131 and the UNCRPD and Autistic Pride resolutions.
Sherry Yvette Barnett says her daughter died four months ago and she is caring for her son with disabilities. She describes being yelled at, bullied, and treated inhumanely while trying to get food stamps and other services, and asks who will help her.
Hanif thanks Barnett for her courage and extends condolences on her daughter's death. She says committee staff will connect with Barnett to identify her council member and address delays.
Barnett says she is in pain and government officials are mistreating her. She describes asking for food stamps, having documents taken, waiting outside for housing help, and being treated like garbage despite having Section 8.
Hanif thanks Gary Oye-Steven for his advocacy and asks Madeline Reichman to elaborate on disability discrimination in DHS shelters. Reichman says most shelter residents have disability-related needs and accommodation requests range from air conditioning to single rooms and kitchens.
Hanif asks whether rejections are detailed and whether there is an appeal. Reichman says determination notices are vague, appeals sometimes succeed, and even approved accommodations like single rooms or kitchen access often cannot be fulfilled due to limited supply.
Hanif asks what areas of accommodation are denied and whether people leave shelters when denied. Reichman says single rooms for women in Manhattan and kitchen access are major shortages, and some people leave the shelter system rather than remain in inaccessible facilities.
Hanif thanks the panel and calls the third panel: Erika Lorshbough, Alicia Roth-Weigel, Alistair Iddleson, Liat Feller, and Jennifer Levine.
Erika Lorshbough, executive director of Interact, says intersex people face high rates of discrimination. She says Intro 131 would make anti-discrimination protections explicit in the city human rights law and build on CCHR's historic administrative recognition.
Alicia Roth Weigel, CUNY adjunct faculty and intersex person, says New York City has been vital in intersex history. She describes healthcare inequity, forced surgeries, and the need for explicit statutory protection and intersex-specific care.
Liat Fowler, president of Interconnect Support Group, says she was fired without explanation after her intersex trait became visible. She says explicit protection is needed so intersex people know their legal recourse and are not left undefined in anti-discrimination law.
Jennifer Levine, board member of Interconnect, says she was told to keep her intersex variation secret and had no resources or support. She describes finding community through Interconnect and asks the Council to pass Intro 131.
Alistair Henry-Idelson, a civil rights lawyer and trans person with a disability, supports Intro 131. He says intersex status and gender identity are different and explicit standalone protections help intersex people and those perceived as intersex.
Caban thanks the panel and asks for more examples of discrimination and what CCHR outreach should look like. Panelists describe healthcare discrimination, exclusion within LGBTQIA spaces, gender policing, and the need for public education.
Hanif asks which community organizations and health care providers are modeling positive support for intersex New Yorkers. Panelists praise DOHMH, describe finding competent and humble providers, and discuss Interconnect's national gatherings and possible clinical competency work.
Hanif calls the fourth panel: Elizabeth Cooper, Brian E. Price, Alyssa Ball, Cameron Mukherjee, Hugh Rose Evans, and Alex Valou.
Alyssa Ball, a wellness practitioner and intersex New Yorker, says explicit legal recognition improves mental health and social standing. She describes exclusion and misunderstanding even within LGBTQIA spaces and supports Intro 131.
Alex Valou, a Fordham Law student in the legislative advocacy clinic, says Intro 131 would amend Section 8-102 to include intersex traits. He says codifying the existing interpretation prevents future commissions from revoking guidance and protects 140,000 intersex New Yorkers.
Bryony Price, an intersex educator and Columbia graduate, says she was subjected to non-consensual genital surgery at age two. She describes workplace discrimination, bathroom access barriers, and healthcare hurdles, and supports Intro 131.
Hugh Rose Evans speaks for the American LGBTQ Museum in support of Intro 131. He says intersex people are valued parts of the LGBTQIA community and deserve explicit, permanent protection under the law.
Cameron Mukherjee, a Fordham Law student, says 140,000 intersex New Yorkers face under-enforcement because the protection is only in guidance. He says Intro 131 is a simple amendment that clarifies the law without creating new liability.
Elizabeth Cooper, a Fordham Law clinic professor, supports Intro 131 and proposes two amendments. She asks the committee to define intersex traits and move the phrase about sex assigned at birth earlier in the definition of gender.
Caban thanks the panel and asks for additional examples of discrimination and thoughts on CCHR outreach. Bryony Price describes immigration forms, binary systems, and misinformation about LGBTQIA educators, and urges destigmatizing conversations and protections.
Hanif thanks the panel and calls the final panel on Zoom: Shana Knizhnik, Kathleen Collins, Jillian Miano, Joanne Kim, and Kimberly Zieselman.
Shana Knizhnik, senior staff attorney at the ACLU and Interact board member, says she is an intersex woman who came out publicly in 2020. She supports Intro 131 and says public education is crucial because most people do not know what intersex means.
Caban asks Knizhnik for more examples of discrimination and what CCHR education should look like. Knizhnik says proactive public education about intersex people can make a huge difference alongside anti-discrimination protections.
Hanif thanks Knizhnik and moves to Kathleen Collins on Zoom.
Kathleen Collins, a congenital quadruple amputee and lawyer, says she shares common experiences with intersex panelists about bodies being seen as needing fixing. She says CCHR must educate city agencies and staff, fix its complaint website, and set enforceable deadlines.
Hanif thanks Collins and moves to Jillian Miano.
Jillian Miano, an autistic self-advocate, says landlords rejected her dogs until they became emotional support animals and the process invaded her medical privacy. She supports Intro 1107 and Resolution 665 calling for UNCRPD ratification.
Council staff thanks Miano and moves to Joanne Kim.
Joanne Kim, assistant director at the Korean American Family Service Center, supports Intro 131. She says immigrant survivors of gender-based violence face compounded barriers and no one should have to choose between living authentically and living safely.
Council staff thanks Kim and moves to Kimberly Zieselman.
Kimberly Zieselman, senior advisor at Outright International, says she learned she was intersex at age 40. She says explicit statutory protection in New York City would provide clarity and visibility and could have global impact.
Hanif thanks Zieselman and calls Sayer Russell, who is present in the room.
Sayer Russell, founder of Autistic Adults NYC, supports recognizing June 18 as Autistic Pride Day. He says representation and understanding shape how autistic people see themselves and urges the city to involve autistic people in decisions about services and messaging.
Hanif thanks Russell and moves back to Zoom for Edward Funches.
Edward Funches says the disability community has the highest unemployment rate and that this contributes to housing instability. He describes creating Inclusion to provide jobs for people with disabilities, formerly incarcerated people, and others, and calls for more partnerships with city agencies.
Hanif thanks everyone who testified and asks if anyone else wishes to speak. She notes written testimony can be submitted within 72 hours and closes the hearing, thanking attendees and looking forward to passing the bills.