News and Events => Political and Legal News => Topic started by: Shana A on December 24, 2012, 08:34:41 AM Return to Full Version
Title: Queens Woman Files Trans Discrimination Lawsuit Against NYC HRA
Post by: Shana A on December 24, 2012, 08:34:41 AM
Post by: Shana A on December 24, 2012, 08:34:41 AM
Queens Woman Files Trans Discrimination Lawsuit Against NYC HRA
by David Perry
EDGE Contributor
Friday Dec 21, 2012
http://www.edgenewyork.com/news/local/features//140006/queens_woman_files_trans_discrimination_lawsuit_against_nyc_hra (http://www.edgenewyork.com/news/local/features//140006/queens_woman_files_trans_discrimination_lawsuit_against_nyc_hra)
A recently filed lawsuit brought by a transgender woman against the New York City Human Resources Administration (HRA) reveals persistent and entrenched transphobia and transgender discrimination in the city's public services.
"Transgender individuals are constantly forced to accept harassment or give up their benefits," said Richard Saenz, staff attorney at Queens Legal Services and Estrella's lawyer. "That's not a choice that anyone should be forced to make, particularly at agencies that serve as a last defense against poverty, homelessness, and poor health."
In May 2011, Jolie Estrella legally changed her given name to correctly reflect her female identity, and the following November brought the Order for Change of Name to the HRA East River Job Center in Queens to complete a routine application for Public Assistance and to request a name and gender change for all HRA documents including her existing Electronic Benefit Transfer card, a debit-like card used for purchasing items with food stamps.
[...]
According to the 33-page suit, Estrella was directed to case manager Alex Tran, who after several routine questions remarked that, "Chaz Bono should never have had a sex change because she looked better as a woman," and "I don't understand how that works -- I understand guys can become girls but girls cannot become guys. And you don't need to because you already have a hole."
Tran later suggested that if Estrella "cleaned up" her appearance, she would not need HRA benefits, and that she suffers from low self-esteem for "not being able to make it as a man." Throughout the interview, Estrella was referred to in the masculine and by her birth name.
by David Perry
EDGE Contributor
Friday Dec 21, 2012
http://www.edgenewyork.com/news/local/features//140006/queens_woman_files_trans_discrimination_lawsuit_against_nyc_hra (http://www.edgenewyork.com/news/local/features//140006/queens_woman_files_trans_discrimination_lawsuit_against_nyc_hra)
A recently filed lawsuit brought by a transgender woman against the New York City Human Resources Administration (HRA) reveals persistent and entrenched transphobia and transgender discrimination in the city's public services.
"Transgender individuals are constantly forced to accept harassment or give up their benefits," said Richard Saenz, staff attorney at Queens Legal Services and Estrella's lawyer. "That's not a choice that anyone should be forced to make, particularly at agencies that serve as a last defense against poverty, homelessness, and poor health."
In May 2011, Jolie Estrella legally changed her given name to correctly reflect her female identity, and the following November brought the Order for Change of Name to the HRA East River Job Center in Queens to complete a routine application for Public Assistance and to request a name and gender change for all HRA documents including her existing Electronic Benefit Transfer card, a debit-like card used for purchasing items with food stamps.
[...]
According to the 33-page suit, Estrella was directed to case manager Alex Tran, who after several routine questions remarked that, "Chaz Bono should never have had a sex change because she looked better as a woman," and "I don't understand how that works -- I understand guys can become girls but girls cannot become guys. And you don't need to because you already have a hole."
Tran later suggested that if Estrella "cleaned up" her appearance, she would not need HRA benefits, and that she suffers from low self-esteem for "not being able to make it as a man." Throughout the interview, Estrella was referred to in the masculine and by her birth name.