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PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Jasmina Salimova, Representative from Girls for Gender Equity
1:39:45
ยท
134 sec
Jasmina Salimova, representing Girls for Gender Equity (GGE), urges the NYC City Council to reaffirm its commitment to protecting and supporting transgender and gender nonconforming people, especially youth. She emphasizes the importance of safeguarding trans rights in the face of national attacks and local challenges.
- GGE is an intergenerational organization founded in 2001, focusing on advancing equity and challenging structural forces like racism, sexism, and transphobia.
- Salimova highlights the need for protection in schools and the existence of legal protections against discrimination in various areas.
- The main ask is to increase the trans equity fund to $10 million to support these efforts.
Jasmina Salimova
1:39:45
Good afternoon to the Committee on Women and Gender Equity.
1:39:48
My name is Jasmina Solomova, and I'm here on behalf of Claudia Coles, who is the Director of Policy and Advocacy at Girls for Gender Equity.
1:39:57
GGE is an intergenerational organization based in Brooklyn, New York founded in 02/2001 on the principle of advancing equity in sports for girls and gender expansive youth.
1:40:06
Since our founding, we have expanded our mission to challenge structural forces including racism, sexism, gender based violence, transphobia, and homophobia, which construct the freedom, full expression, and rights of all young people.
1:40:20
We do this work through direct service, policy advocacy, and cultural change.
1:40:24
We are here today to urge this committee and the full city council to reaffirm your commitment to protecting, supporting, and, expanding access for transgender and gender nonconforming people, especially youth in New York City.
1:40:37
At a time when trans rights are under relentless attack across the country and from the highest level of government, it is important that our city remains committed to ensuring that all young people, regardless of their gender identity, are able to exist, express themselves fully, and thrive.
1:40:52
Protection for trans and gender nonconforming youth begins in schools.
1:40:55
The Department of Education has issued guidelines to support trans and gender expansive students to ensure that every student has the opportunity to learn, grow, and thrive in a safe environment.
1:41:05
Additionally, there are legal protections to prevent discrimination in employment, housing, and other essential services.
1:41:11
However, despite the local work done to shore up protections and create equitable opportunity, federal efforts started to erase the existence of trans people, and roll back the existing safety nets, putting young trans and gender nonconforming people at risk of harm.
1:41:24
We are already seeing this influence play out in our local schools where policies targeting trans youth, particularly in sports, seek to exclude the I'm sorry, seeks to exclude them under the guise of fairness.
1:41:36
These efforts do not protect anyone.
1:41:38
Instead, they reinforce harmful stereotypes, fuel discrimination, and further isolate trans youth, many of whom are already navigating hostile environments.
Farah Louis
1:41:49
You go rap.
Jasmina Salimova
1:41:50
Alright.
1:41:51
We have a list of asks that we'll be following up with, but our main one is asking for the trans equity fund to be increased to $10,000,000.
1:41:58
Thank you for your time.
Farah Louis
1:41:59
You got it all done.