Empire Justice Center

Empire Justice Center is a statewide, non-profit law firm dedicated to changing the law for all New Yorkers, especially those who need its protection most. Through a 360-degree approach that includes litigation, education, and policy advocacy, we use the law to make access to justice more equitable. Since 1973, Empire Justice has helped protect and strengthen the rights of millions of New Yorkers. 

Empire Justice Center is committed to fighting day-to-day and systemic discrimination faced by lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) people around New York State. Empire Justice LGBTQ Rights Project uses a powerful, 360-degree approach to justice to create foundational changes and lasting impacts.   

Our LGBTQ Rights Project 

LGBTQ people deserve and are entitled to live full, equal, and authentic lives. However, discrimination based on sexual orientation, and gender identity remains pervasive across the country and in New York State. This is why Empire Justice has an LGBTQ Rights Project, dedicated to serving the LGBTQ community.  

We teach the law: 

Empire Justice has provided LGBTQ-related training and technical assistance for advocates across NYS in the following subject areas:  

• The Gender Recognition Act (including name changes, sex designation updates, identity document updates) to both advocates and community members
• Welcoming and respectful representation of LGBTQ child clients in Family Court for Attorneys for the Child court appointed to represent in NY’s 3rd and 4th Appellate Division
• Supporting LGBTQ Older Adults 
• What is LGBTQ Intimate Partner Violence and How to Address It
• Technology-facilitated abuse and LGBTQ survivors
• Moderated discussions during our quarterly meetings on topics including: criminal justice-involved LGBTQ survivors, legislative and case law updates, Extreme Risk Protection orders, multi-parent headed households and parentage
• Developed a screening tool for attorneys handling transgender name changes 
• Shared expertise at The New Pride Agenda’s 2024 Convening in Albany, spotlighting New York's law protecting gender affirming care and its impact on transgender healthcare rights. 

We practice the law

Our LGBTQ rights project provides free legal services to low income lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer clients in the Capital Region of New York State. 

• We host trans and nonbinary name change clinics, providing on-site experts to facilitate legal paperwork for name changes. 
• We developed "Know Your Rights Guides" on the following subjects: 
  • Transgender, Gender-Nonconforming, New Yorkers Navigating the New York State Human Rights Law.
  • An overview of the Human Rights Law; how it protects students and individuals from bullying and harassment, and how to file a complaint with the Division of Human Rights, available in English and Spanish
  • A Guide to Shelter Access for transgender, gender non-conforming, and nonbinary (TGNCNB) people in English and Spanish
• We provided testimony at Rochester's City Council's Public Hearing on LGBTQ+ rights, offering testimony to share resources and recommend additional safeguards for LGBTQ New Yorkers.  
• We operate a school discrimination helpline to provide advice and council to children and families grades K-12 who have experienced school-based discrimination in New York State. This includes, but isn't limited to, bullying, harassment, and other forms of discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, race, color, religion, disability, national origin, sex, and age.

We change the law

Empire Justice's LBGTQ Rights Project has been involved in research and advocacy for the LGBTQ community. As part of the Gender Recognition Act, New Yorkers can now get gender marker "X" on their licenses, and we're proud to have advocated for such an important change. 

Thanks to advocacy by our LGBTQ rights project, the Office of Court Administration enacted a new administrative rule to protect identities of transgender people by sealing name change records. This change recognizes the heightened risks of discrimination and harassment that transgender individuals face-- and takes an important step toward ensuring their privacy. 

Your support of Empire Justice Center means we can do more to serve the LGBTQ community across New York State, and continue our mission to "make the law work for all New Yorkers, especially those who need its protection the most." Thank you for participating in Give OUT Day, and for supporting Empire Justice Center. 

Learn more about us: https://empirejustice.org/