logo of Dorothy Cotton Institute
SISTERS OF CHANGE-Unsung Sheroes for Racial Justice Whose Names Everyone Should Know
LGTBQ Housing Rights

GET MORE INFO ON THIS TOPIC

The Dorothy Cotton Institute in collaboration with The History Center has an exhibit in the Atrium Tower of the Tompkins Center for History and Culture.

110 N. Tioga St., on the Ithaca Commons

Now through May, 2020, visitors can explore the Sisters of Change exhibit in the display tower as well as short videos about Dorothy Cotton, and tour The History Center’s main exhibit hall.

 

We at DCI are committed to honoring the life and work of Dorothy Cotton. We recognize that this amazing woman has not been cataloged in our nation’s memory to the extent that she deserves. With this in mind, we know that a necessary component of sustaining her legacy is to counteract this erasure. We want to bring you the stories of other women whose crucial roles in Black liberation movements and campaigns ought to be highlighted and honored. These women gave their time, energy, and souls to this work so that we could be here today. Let us uplift their voices and be forever inspired by their power.

One side of the Atrium Tower exhibit is devoted to the life and legacy of Dorothy Foreman Cotton; on display are archival photos and portraits, printed material from the Citizenship Education Program (CEP) and the SCLC, her memoir, and the gold ensemble that she wore when she received the 2010 National Freedom Award at the National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis, TN.  Inside a touchscreen kiosk there is biographical content, an introduction to the CEP  and three short videos about Dorothy, including a 5-minute teaser from the documentary we have in development, Move When the Spirit Says Move.

The opposite side of the Atrium Tower is devoted to twenty-five Sisters of Change, women of the movement for Civil Rights and women’s rights, whose tremendous contributions deserve a prominent place in American history. They each deserve their own tribute. The tower exhibit includes photos quotes from four of these leaders, some of the books written by them or about them, and a variety of memorabilia from the 60s and 70s. There are photos and short bios in the touchscreen digital kiosk about each of the Sisters of Change, describing the campaigns and actions they took for racial justice and social transformation. There are many others who are just as important and are not featured in our presentation. We focused on contemporaries and colleagues of Dorothy Cotton, but we hope to build a broader base of knowledge and recognition of people who embodied the change they wished to see for their people, and the best of humanity.

This link is to an article that includes history and stats about where LGTBQ housing rights stand, home buying advice from experts on the topic, and a state-by-state map that highlights which areas prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation and/or gender identity:

https://www.reviews.com/blog/lgbtq-fair-housing/

 

It’s interesting to note that in the reviews.com article, NY State is not listed on the national map of states that have LGTBQ anti-discrimination laws on the books. However, we do have a strong Human Rights law prohibiting discrimination https://ag.ny.gov/civil-rights/lgbt-rights   as well as a number of local laws (see some of NYS jurisdictions listed below) Check out this link for more information than is copied here:

LGBT Rights

Laws Protecting Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) New Yorkers

 

New York State residents receive LGBT-related and same-sex marriage protections under a variety of state and local laws. For information on whether a specific law applies to you, or if you believe you have been the victim of discrimination, contact the Civil Rights Bureau at (212) 416-8250 or Civil.Rights@ag.ny.gov.

New York State LGBT Laws

The Sexual Orientation Non-Discrimination Act (SONDA)

The Sexual Orientation Non-Discrimination Act, effective as of January 16, 2003, makes it unlawful for anyone in New York State to be discriminated against in employment, housing, credit, education and public accommodations because of their actual or perceived sexual orientation. SONDA, in combination with laws prohibiting discrimination based on marital status, together prohibit discrimination against same-sex couples in employment, housing, credit, education, and public accommodations.

With respect to transgender individuals, SONDA does not explicitly prohibit discrimination based on gender identity and expression. However, SONDA does apply when a transgender person is discriminated against based upon his or her actual or perceived sexual orientation. Furthermore, courts have also held that transgender people are protected under provisions of the New York State Human Rights Law prohibiting discrimination on the basis of sex and/or disability.  And in 2009, then-Governor David Paterson issued an executive order prohibiting discrimination in state employment on the basis of gender identity.

If you believe you have been the victim of discrimination prohibited by SONDA or the New York State Human Rights Law, you may file a complaint with the Civil Rights Bureau of the New York State Attorney General’s Office. Making a complaint with the Attorney General does not satisfy other statutory filing deadlines that may apply.

Dignity for All Students Act (DASA)

The Dignity for All Students Act, effective as of July 1, 2012, seeks to provide the state’s public elementary and secondary school students with a safe and supportive environment free from discrimination, intimidation, taunting, harassment and bullying on school property, school buses, and during school functions. In 2012, the law was extended to apply to cyberbullying, prohibiting bullying and harassment via electronic communication. Prohibited activities can include aggressive conduct, threats, intimidation, or abuse that unreasonably and substantially interferes with another student’s educational performance. For more information on DASA, click here. 

 

Local Laws Prohibiting Discrimination Based on Sexual Orientation or Gender Identity/Expression

Alongside the protections afforded by SONDA, various New York jurisdictions, including but not limited to those listed below, prohibit sexual orientation discrimination in one or more of the following contexts:  public employment, private employment, public accommodations, education and/or housing.

City of Albany

Village of Alfred

City of Binghamton

Town of Brighton

City of Buffalo

Town of East Hampton

City of Ithaca

New York City

City of Plattsburgh

City of Rochester

Town of Southampton

City of Troy

City of Watertown

Albany County

Nassau County

Onondaga County

Suffolk County

Tompkins County

Westchester County

Six cities and three counties in New York State prohibit discrimination on the basis of gender identity or expression. These are Albany, Binghamton, Buffalo, Ithaca, New York City, Rochester, and Suffolk, Tompkins, and Westchester Counties.