Happy Pride Month!
It’s my privilege to formally introduce the 2024 edition of the New York City LGBTQIA+ Resource Guide—a comprehensive directory of organizations and services designed to address the needs of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, and Asexual individuals in the city. This guide serves as a reaffirmation of the New York City Comptroller Office’s ongoing commitment to celebrating and supporting LGBTQIA+ communities across the city, providing access to essential services and inclusive spaces for all.
Despite the strides we have made in ending discrimination against LGBTQIA+ communities, we are witnessing a rise in inhumane and dangerous rhetoric and attacks right here in our city. Recently, Community Education Council 2 in Manhattan passed a resolution seeking to prohibit transgender girls from participating in school sports in accordance with their gender identity. This resolution is nothing more than a bigoted ploy to strip trans children of the protections enshrined in our city and state Human Rights Laws and years-long DOE policies. In light of the growing hate and transphobia in our city and around the country, it is imperative we stand up for our children and fight to guarantee equal opportunity for all NYC students to play. Excluding transgender athletes deprives them of full engagement in school activities, impacting their well-being and sense of inclusion. According to one national survey 86% of transgender and nonbinary youth say recent debates around anti-trans bills have negatively impacted their mental health. Two-thirds of transgender students in NYC report feeling sad or hopeless.
Additionally, NYC has welcomed asylum seekers who identify as LGBTQIA+ and continue to face unique challenges that require urgent attention from the City. Many newly arrived asylum seekers come from countries where they face repression and persecution on the basis of their gender identity or sexual orientation. Access to immigration legal services, housing, and health services is critical for their safety and well-being, and the City must ensure that initiatives are put in place to address these issues in a culturally responsive way. Through this, I believe the City can create a more inclusive and supportive environment for LGBTQIA+ asylum seekers fulfilling its commitment to human rights and dignity for all. Our Office will always work to uplift all New Yorkers and support equitable and inclusive access to resources.
Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” law and other bills like it have become a topic of national concern and symbolize a troubling trend in the erosion of LGBTQIA+ rights. Such legislation prohibits discussions about LGBTQIA+ topics in schools, perpetuating stigma and marginalization. It reflects broader efforts to backtrack on the progress made in LGBTQIA+ rights, signaling a regression in social equality often paired with attacks on discussions around racial justice and equity. The attack on LGBTQIA+ rights are a part of broader efforts to undue the right to bodily autonomy and reproductive care and roll back protections against racial discrimination. Such attacks stem from misinformation and prejudice, and chip away at the cherished rights we all enjoy.
Even though there’s still significant work ahead to build a world centered on joy and committed to the dignity of all New Yorkers, the extensive list of LGBTQIA+ civic and cultural resources in the city inspire confidence that we will eventually achieve this vision. My Office remains steadfast in its commitment to inclusivity and equality and as New York City Comptroller, I pledge to push back against regressive measures whenever they come to our city and will continue advocating for LGBTQIA+ rights across our city, state, and country. Every New Yorker deserves to be treated with dignity and respect, irrespective of whom they love or how they identify.
We hope you will find this edition of the LGBTQIA+ guide to be a useful resource — and encourage you to share it colleagues, friends, and neighbors who may be interested. For any questions about the 2024 edition or if you would like to request a print copy, please send an email to action@comptroller.nyc.gov. You can also browse the entire directory online at https://comptroller.nyc.gov/lgbtq/. Thank for your continued partnership.
In solidarity,
Brad Lander
New York City Comptroller