NEW YORK STATE ADVOCACY

Sheild Law 2.0 will strengthen and fill gaps in our state's shield laws to ensure that New York State will not be complicit in hostile states' and federal efforts to investigate, prosecute, or punish those who seek, provide, and facilitate reproductive health care and gender-affirming care in New York.

Cecilia’s Act for Rights in the Sex Trades decriminalizes adult, consensual sex work in New York while maintaining penalties for coercion and trafficking.

​Criminalization puts sex workers at greater risk of violence, arrest, and barriers to healthcare. Backed by global experts, this bill follows proven models like New Zealand’s, which show that decriminalization reduces harm and improves safety. We urge lawmakers to pass Cecilia’s Act and reject approaches that continue to endanger sex workers.

LGBTQ+ youth, especially those who identify as BIPOC or are experiencing housing instability, are disproportionately impacted by criminalization due to survival-based offenses. Current laws, such as Youthful Offender (YO) status, are too limited, applying only to those under 19 and offering no second chances.

The Youth Justice & Opportunities Act would create a new “Young Adult” (YA) status for emerging adults interacting with the justice system and provide alternatives to adult criminal convictions and sentencing.​

Hospital Transparency will help New Yorkers to know whether the hospital in their area provides the care they need prior to admission and would assist the State in identifying care deserts where particular types of care are completely unavailable. It takes on new urgency as hospitals began denying gender-affirming care in response to Trump’s anti-trans executive orders; community members, families, and advocates have been desperately seeking information about which hospitals are denying care.

The Immunity Bill protects individuals engaged in sex work—many of whom are LGBTQ+ youth and trafficking survivors engaging in survival sex—from prosecution when they report a crime, seek medical help, or assist in an investigation.

Much like New York’s Good Samaritan law for overdose emergencies, this bill would ensure that victims and witnesses of violence can come forward without fear of arrest for prostitution-related charges. By removing this barrier, this bill protects vulnerable communities, holds perpetrators accountable, and improves public safety.

The Youth Interrogation Bill would protect a child’s right to remain silent by requiring consultation with a lawyer to ensure they understand their rights and the consequences of waiving them.

After the police take a child into custody, if they determine interrogation is necessary, it would be mandatory that the child first consult with a lawyer before any questioning can take place. Consultation with a lawyer would be a nonwaivable requirement. Any statement taken in violation of this requirement could not be entered into evidence against the child.

The Gender Identity Respect, Dignity, and Safety Act, ensures that incarcerated transgender, nonbinary, gender-nonconforming, and intersex (TGNCNBI) people in New York are treated with basic dignity and respect. This bill would create a presumption of gender-aligned housing and access to affirming care, names, pronouns, and protections from abuse.