As we enter this Pride weekend it is important to remember that many people – in particular transgender women of color – still struggle to meet their basic human needs such as health care. Despite ongoing litigation in Cruz v. Zucker, the NYS DOH continues to suggest amendments to the current regulation that make it harder for […]
Archive | Policy Advocacy
SRLP Members Help HALT Solitary in NYS Prisons
By Sylvia Rivera Law Project on April 8, 2016 in Action Alert, Everyday Abolition, Legal, Policy Advocacy, Prisoner Rights Project
On any single day about 4,000 people are held in solitary confinement in New York State prisons. This is a fact that Marci, a member of the Sylvia Rivera Law Project’s Movement Building Team, knows all too well. Having survived solitary confinement herself, Marci is now joining a group of advocates on April 12 […]
Mayor de Blasio Requires City Buildings to Give Bathroom Access to TGNCI Folks
By Kyle Rapiñan, Director of Survival and Self-Determination on March 9, 2016 in Legal, News, Policy Advocacy
Last Monday, I had the privilege of joining advocates and allies at the signing of an important executive order barring city facilities from harassing and intimidating transgender people and their use of city-owned restrooms and sex-segregated facilities. For trans, gender nonconforming and intersex (TGNCI) communities, there is often a fear for our safety and the […]
Last chance to make noise for trans healthcare to the Feds!
By Sasha Alexander, SRLP Director of Membership on January 19, 2016 in Action Alert, Legal, Membership, Policy Advocacy
This is a call to action to support trans health! Tonight, comments are due at 11:59 pm on a new proposed rule from the federal housing agency, HUD (Housing and Urban Development) for a change in regulations regarding “Equal Access to Housing in HUD Programs Regardless of Sexual Orientation or Gender Identity (Equal Access Rule)“. Our communities […]
Trans Voices Raised At Public Hearing
By Sylvia Rivera Law Project on October 23, 2015 in Everyday Abolition, Legal, News, Policy Advocacy, Prisoner Rights Project, SRLP News
Last Friday, members of the SRLP Movement Building Team and Prison Advisory Committee shared their stories and personal concerns regarding rules pending before the Board of Correction. Staff and members testified before the Board and spoke out at a rally before. SRLP staff is so honored to work with members who share their stories […]
SRLP’s Submission of Comments and Recommendations in Response to the Proposed Rulemaking Addressing Visitation, Packages, and Solitary
Below is the testimony submitted by staff attorney Mik Kinkead on behalf of Sylvia Rivera Law Project at the Board of Corrections hearing on October 16, 2015. Re: Submission of Comments and Recommendations in Response to the Proposed Rulemaking Addressing Visitation, Packages, and Solitary Dear Chair Brezenoff and the NYC Board of Correction: The […]
SRLP spoke up against solitary confinement and limitation on visitation rules at BOC hearing
By Sylvia Rivera Law Project on October 18, 2015 in Everyday Abolition, Legal, Membership, News, Policy Advocacy, Prisoner Rights Project, SRLP In The Media, SRLP Prisoner Advisory Committee
On Friday, October 16, SRLP staff and members, including India, Natalia, Olympia and Xena, along with our allies such as the Jails Action Coalition, attended a Board of Corrections hearing to speak up against the Department of Correction’s attempt to increase the use of solitary confinement to over 30 days and its attempt to curtail visitation […]
Stop Harsh New Restrictions on People in NYC Jails and Their Families!
By Sylvia Rivera Law Project on September 25, 2015 in Action Alert, Legal, News, Policy Advocacy, Prisoner Rights Project, SRLP News
The NYC Department of Corrections seeks to change rules to limit visitation and packages in NYC jails, which would negatively impact the conditions of those who are incarcerated and their friends and families. SRLP and many of our organizational friends and allies such as the Jails Action Coalition placed pressure on DOC’s governing body (the Board of Correction) to not vote on […]
SRLP Members and Staff Oppose Visitation Changes in NYC Jails
By Sylvia Rivera Law Project on September 22, 2015 in Action Alert, Legal, News, Policy Advocacy, Prisoner Rights Project, SRLP News, SRLP Prisoner Advisory Committee
The Sylvia Rivera Law Project was proud to join the Jail Action Coalition and its partner organizations for a rally and press conference on the steps of City Hall on Tuesday September 9. SRLP staff and members went out in 90 degree weather to protest the tightening of visitation and package restrictions on Riker’s and […]
SRLP’s Prisoner Justice Project Assists in Keeping #EyesOnRikers
By Sylvia Rivera Law Project on September 8, 2015 in News, Newsletter, Policy Advocacy, Prisoner Rights Project, SRLP News, SRLP Prisoner Advisory Committee
The Prisoner Justice Project (PJP) at the Sylvia Rivera Law Project (SRLP) has a long history of providing legal and supportive services to our transgender, gender non-conforming, and intersex communities in state prison, and we have recently been able to focus even more of our efforts on our communities held in New York City jails. […]