Legal Services NYC fights for low-income LGBTQ+ New Yorkers every day, across all of our practice areas. New York City is home to a vibrant LGBTQ+ community, but many still face discrimination and other barriers.
Poverty is an LGBTQ+ issue and low-income LGBTQ+ New Yorkers are on the front lines of anti-LGBTQ+ discrimination. LGBTQ+ New Yorkers are more likely to experience poverty, facing many of the same challenges as other low-income New Yorkers, like housing instability, the need for immigration relief, and the struggle to access public benefits. Without the security that comes with wealth, our clients too often face discrimination based on their sexual orientation and gender identity with few allies to protect them.
Our advocates help LGBTQ+ clients on a variety of legal issues such as:
- Tenant Rights. Represent tenants to secure repairs and fight evictions and harassment, as well as help apply for one-shot deals and programs like SCRIE/DRIE.
- Housing & Shelter. Assistance in accessing supportive housing and an appropriate placement in the shelter system.
- Name Change & ID Document Updates. Secure legal name and gender marker changes for trans, nonbinary, and gender nonconforming New Yorkers, including updating key identity documents.
- Health. Help people secure affordable health insurance programs, like Medicaid and Medicare, and ensure coverage for gender-affirming care for LGBTQ+ people with Medicaid and private insurance.
- Fighting discrimination. Combat discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity or expression in employment, housing, shelter, healthcare, public accommodations, and beyond.
- Public Benefits. Ensure access to public benefits like Cash Assistance (including HASA), SNAP, and Social Security, as well as one-shot deals for arrears assistance.
- Immigration. Pursue asylum and other immigration relief for LGBTQ+ clients.
- Insurance Denials. Fight on behalf of individuals who’ve experienced insurance denial.
- Life planning. Prepare wills, healthcare proxies, and other advance planning assistance.
RESOURCES
Health Care for Transgender New Yorkers: Will Medicaid Paid for Gender-Affirming Procedures? (PDF)
Know Your Rights: Gender Recognition Act Factsheet, 2021 (English, Español)
Know Your Rights: Gender Recognition Act FAQs, 2021 (English, Español)