Transgender people are disproportionately affected by HIV/AIDS, which is why Housing Works is a long-time provider of services to transgender New Yorkers living with HIV.

We’ve also played an aggressive role in defending the rights of transgender New Yorkers.

In 2006, Tracy Bumpus, a transgender woman and Housing Works employee, was the subject of a long, public and virulently transphobic tirade at a subway station after she asked a New York City Transit Authority Employee for help with a malfunctioning Metro card.

Two subway riders who witnessed the incident later followed Bumpus when she got off the train and hurled more homophobic epithets at her, causing Bumpus to fear for her safety. Returning to her subway station a week later, Bumpus was again mocked by the Transit Authority employee in front of another Transit Authority employee.

Housing Works filed a suit against the Transit Authority employee for discriminating on the basis of gender identity, a violation of the city’s Human Rights Law. We also filed a suit against the Transit Authority itself, which had failed to properly train and supervise its employees, and had failed to deal with the incident.

In 2009, in a major win for transgender New Yorkers, an appeals court ruled against the Transit Authority when it sought to have the case dismissed. Justice Robert J. Miller explained: “The Human Rights Law affords protection to transgender people in New York City. By riding the subway, a transgender person doesn’t become less of a person and lose the protection of the Human Rights Law.”

In 2011, the New York State Supreme Court upheld the 2009 decision. Tragically, Bumpus died in 2011. Cases do not end when a plaintiff dies, however, so the suit continues until further notice.

• The City Budget

• Transgender Discrimination

• HASA Benefits for All