Yesterday:

BREAKING: our member spent a long day in Albany today talking to legislators about the #WalkingWhileTrans ban. On her way home tonight, she was harassed by NYPD’s Vice Squad for #WalkingWhileTrans. Same day, same issue. Video shows the undercover Vice cars after the incident pic.twitter.com/0MGHy4Y1Q1
— VOCAL-NY (@VOCALNewYork) June 13, 2019

At end of the video, you can hear the vice officer shout at her. Not captured in video: officers trying to entrap her into a “loitering for the purposes of prostitution” aka #WalkingWhileTrans charge, waiving her down to vehicle & repeatedly yelling sexually suggestive remarks
— VOCAL-NY (@VOCALNewYork) June 13, 2019

What was she wearing? Literally a VOCAL t-shirt. This is why we MUST pass @bradhoylman @AmyPaulin bill (S2253/A654) to repeal the #WalkingWhileTrans ban NOW! The existence of the ban encourages profiling & targeted state violence toward TGNC communities of color pic.twitter.com/2SNjz4OrX6
— VOCAL-NY (@VOCALNewYork) June 13, 2019

What this organizer and advocate experienced is all to common for trans women, especially trans women of color. That's why laws are needed to make meaningful change to the NY criminal legal system and help reduce the harm caused by our existing s. There are bills in Albany that can do just that, and you can help!

With little time remaining in the session, let's make a push on these key bills:

Bills A00654/S02253 (Paulin/Hoylman) would repeal New York’s loitering for the purposes of prostitution law has been abused to the point, as seen above, where it is dangerous to be #WalkingWhileTrans. In 2018, there were 152 #WalkingWhileTrans arrests: 49% Black, 42% Hispanic, & 7% white. These discriminatory arrests must stop now!
Bills A5177/S728 (Walker/Montgomery) eliminate possession of a single condom being used by law enforcement as a probable cause for arrest on the grounds of suspected prostitution. Safe sex shouldn't lead to a sentence!
Bills A06983/S04981(Gottfried/Ramos, Salazar) would expand the relief available to survivors of human trafficking who have criminal records for crimes their traffickers have compelled them to commit. Currently, New York State law only allows trafficking survivors to clear prostitution-related convictions from their records, although many are convicted of other types of offenses during the course of their trafficking.

Three simple things you can do to help:

1. Call your Assembly Member and Senator:
Find their phone number here:
- Assembly  https://nyassembly.gov/mem/
- Senate  https://www.nysenate.gov/senators-committees
(Not sure who represent you, find them here: https://nyassembly.gov/mem/search/ or https://www.nysenate.gov/find-my-senator)
Voice your support and tell them: "Current law unfairly targets LGBTQ people, especially trans women of color and victims of human trafficking. The following bills deserve a floor vote and your support:  A00654/S02253, A06983/S04981, and A5177/S728 "

2. Call
Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie: 518-455-3791
Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins: 518-455-3791
The Speaker and Majority Leader determine what bills come to the floor. Share the same script as above!

3. Bring it to social media!
Sample tweet: ".@NYSA_Majority & @NYSenDems Current law unfairly targets LGBTQ people, especially trans women of color and victims of human trafficking. . The following bills deserve a floor vote and your support:  A00654/S02253, A06983/S04981, and A5177/S728 ."
Or retweet the below:

.@NYSA_Majority & @NYSenDems
There are current laws in New York that unfairly target LGBTQ people, especially trans women of color and victims of human trafficking.
The following bills deserve a floor vote and your support: A00654/S02253, A06983/S04981, and A5177/S728 .
— Stonewall Democrats (@SDNYC) June 13, 2019

2019 has been a monumental year for progress in New York. While the legislative session might be ending, our work for a fairer, safer New York never ends. Thank you for your help!