New York City Commission on Human Rights

2002 Annual Report
Introduction

The New York Human Rights Law is one of the most comprehensive civil rights laws in the nation. The Law prohibits discrimination in employment, housing and public accommodations based on race, color, creed, age, national origin, alienage or citizenship status, gender (including gender identity and sexual harassment), sexual orientation, disability, or marital status. In addition, the Law affords protection against discrimination in employment based on arrest or conviction record and status as a victim of domestic violence. In housing, the Law affords additional protection based on lawful occupation and family status. The City Human Rights Law also prohibits retaliation and bias-related harassment.

The City Human Rights Law was amended in April 2002 to broaden the scope of protection from gender discrimination by defining "gender" to include actual or perceived sex as well as a "person's gender identity, self-image, appearance, behavior or expression, whether or not that gender identity, self-image, appearance, behavior or expression is different from that traditionally associated with the legal sex assigned to that person at birth." The Commission is currently working with the transgender community and reviewing how other jurisdictions handle these issues in the formulation of guidelines for prosecution.

The New York City Commission on Human Rights is charged with the enforcement of the Human Rights Law, Title 8 of the Administrative Code of the City of New York. In addition, the Commission is mandated to educate the public and encourage positive community relations. To carry out its mission, the Commission is divided into two major bureaus - Law Enforcement and Community Relations. The Law Enforcement Bureau is responsible for the intake, investigation, mediation and prosecution of complaints alleging violations of the Law. The Community Relations Bureau helps cultivate understanding and respect among the City's many diverse communities and offers pre-complaint intervention through its borough-based Community Service Centers and the numerous educational and outreach programs they provide.