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The Sylvia Rivera Law Project

The Sylvia Rivera Law Project. “I was a radical, a revolutionist. I am still a revolutionist. I was proud to make the road and help change laws and what-not. I was very proud of doing that and proud of what I'm still doing, no matter what it takes.” Sylvia Rivera Mission

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The Sylvia Rivera Law Project

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  1. The Sylvia Rivera Law Project “I was a radical, a revolutionist. I am still a revolutionist. I was proud to make the road and help change laws and what-not. I was very proud of doing that and proud of what I'm still doing, no matter what it takes.” Sylvia Rivera Mission The Sylvia Rivera Law Project (SRLP) works to guarantee that all people are free to self-determine their gender identity and expression, regardless of income or race, and without facing harassment, discrimination, or violence. SRLP is a collective organization founded on the understanding that gender self-determination is inextricably intertwined with racial, social and economic justice. Therefore, we seek to increase the political voice and visibility of low-income people and people of color who are transgender, intersex, or gender non-conforming. SRLP works to improve access to respectful and affirming social, health, and legal services for our communities. We believe that in order to create meaningful political participation and leadership, we must have access to basic means of survival and safety from violence.

  2. our story (a few highlights) 2002: SRLP began as a one-person fellowship project hosted at the Urban Justice Center. From its inception, SRLP focused on the intersections of economic injustice and gender identity discrimination in the lives of low-income transgender, intersex, and gender nonconforming people. 2003: As community support of the project expanded, SRLP transitioned into a collective structure with a growing staff and increased volunteer collective members. 2004: SRLP became an independent organization with two staff members, two fellows and we hired our first Grassroots Fundraising Coordinator. 2009: Conducted over 40 trainings and workshops helped pass a policy preventing transphobia & discrimination at the Human Resources Administration 2010: The Movement Building Team begins! SRLP moves to a larger, more awesome space!

  3. Our Goals & Political Imagination • free, quality, respectful, affirming legal services for low-income transgender, intersex, and gender non-conforming people. • end state sanctioned and institutional discrimination, violence, and coercion on the basis of gender identity and expression, which we understand as inextricably related to race and class. • build a non-hierarchical collective organization & developing the leadership of our community • participate in the larger movement for racial, social, and economic justice that includes gender liberation and prioritizes the issues of those most affected by the systems of oppression under which we live.

  4. our approach: a collective structure • SRLP’s transition into a Collective governance structure was a deliberate move to maximize community involvement and accountability, increase sustainability, and redistribute decision-making power away from traditional hierarchies of educational, race, age and gender privilege.  • Our collective model allows for broader community involvement and increased accountability to the communities that we serve, because it includes community members as core stakeholders and decision makers working to determine SRLP’s vision and future! • Collective members participate in consensus based decisions to determine the vision and work of SRLP

  5. movement building: new learnings & directions! • Re-organized the work of our Public Education Team and Organizing Support Team into the Movement Building Team (MBT). • MBT’s work centers on developing the skills, leadership and political power of community members as well as organize around policy issues

  6. Hot Stuff!sharing and building our skills & analysis • Advocacy • Organizing • Demystifying legal systems • Public speaking • Political Education

  7. weekly drop-in hours & outer borough legal clinics free legal services to community members during drop in hours. free monthly legal clinic at the Bronx Community Pride in English and Spanish.  connect clients to social justice struggles and community organizing opportunities

  8. a victory in the hra campaign! Since 2005, Trans and Gender Non-Conforming (TGNC) communities in New York City have been fighting back by urging Human Resources Administration to address the widespread Transphobia, discrimination, and harassment that Trans and Gender Non-Conforming people in New York City face when accessing public assistance. This year, SRLP along with TransJustice, Queers for Economic Justice and Housing Works celebrated a hard-won HRA campaign victory! In December 2009, after years of organizing and advocacy by the transgender communities, the Department of Health’s Commissioner signed into effect a policy that protects people from discrimination on the basis of their gender identity and expression.

  9. Contact us! • Sylvia Rivera Law Project147 W 24th St, 5th FloorNew York, NY 10011(building is wheelchair accessible) • Tel: 212-337-8550Toll Free: 1-866-930-3283Fax: 212-337-1972Email: info@srlp.org • Languages Spoken: English/Spanish/Hindi

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