The citymeetings.nyc logo showing a pigeon at a podium with a microphone.

citymeetings.nyc

Your guide to NYC's public proceedings.

PUBLIC TESTIMONY

Testimony by Bryan Ellicott-Cook, Director of Government Relations at SAGE

1:13:50

ยท

110 sec

Bryan Ellicott-Cook, representing SAGE, testified in support of all agenda items before the committee, emphasizing their importance for the dignity and well-being of transgender and non-binary individuals. They highlighted the current challenges faced by the TGNB community and advocated for increased funding and legislative protections.

  • Supported raising the Trans Equity Fund to $10 million, prioritizing trans-led and trans-serving organizations
  • Endorsed Resolution 0771-2025 to protect personal information
  • Urged the committee to consider renaming itself to be more inclusive of the TGNB community it serves
Bryan Ellicott-Cook
1:13:50
Good afternoon, Chair Lewis, members of the committee.
1:13:53
My name is Brian Ellicott Cook.
1:13:54
My pronouns are they and he, and I'm the director of government relations at SAGE, The nation's largest and oldest organization dedicated to improving the lives of LGBTQ plus elders.
1:14:04
Especially those who are TGNB, people who served, and people living with HIV.
1:14:09
SAGE fully supports all of the agenda items before the committee today.
1:14:13
As those measures are essential to ensuring dignity, safety, and the well-being of trans women, trans men, and non binary individuals.
1:14:21
Across the country, an alarming push to erase our existence from public from the public is here.
1:14:27
There are respective laws, rollbacks on our rights, and denials to basic health care, even the leasing of how we have the ability to travel and live our lives.
1:14:35
Sage fully supports the ask from the Trans Equity Fund to raise to be raised to $10,000,000 prioritizing trans led and trans serving organizations.
1:14:46
We support resolution zero seven seven one which calls on the governor to sign s nine two nine and a two one four one, protecting personal information to not just to a privacy issue, it is now an issue of survival.
1:15:00
Beyond this specific policy measures, I wanna urge the committee to consider renaming itself to better reflect the t g m b community it serves.
1:15:08
Language matters, and a more inclusive name would send a powerful message that all gender diverse individuals, especially those most marginalized, that we are seen, valued, and protected under the scope of this committee's work.
1:15:20
At a time when our committee faces escalating threats from hostile policies, visibility and inclusion in the in the institutions meant to protect us is more critical than ever.
1:15:29
And Sage remains committed to working alongside this committee, the city council, and all of our advocates to advance policies that uplift and safeguard t g m b older adults and the next generation of t g m b new yorkers.
1:15:40
Thank you.
Citymeetings.nyc pigeon logo

Is citymeetings.nyc useful to you?

I'm thrilled!

Please help me out by answering just one question.

What do you do?

Thank you!

Want to stay up to date? Sign up for the newsletter.