UNION OF LEGAL WORKERS FOR TRANS LIBERATION
One of the founding members of TLDEF’s Union of Legal Workers for Trans Liberation. The majority of TLDEF staff unionized to achieve better benefits, working conditions, and compensation across our organization. Our Collective Bargaining Agreement was ratified in March of 2023. Our contract includes major policies like a four day work week!
Positions & Committees
Union Chapter Chair
2023-Current
Labor Management Committee
Aug 2023-Current
Related Articles:
Gay City News, October 22,2021, TLDEF Employees Mount Unionization Effort
FISHTOWN BEAUTIFICATION COMMITTEE
The Beautification Committee improves quality of life in Fishtown by supporting public art, hosting clean-ups, and promoting trees and green spaces.
Active: 2023-Current
CARE KITS
Individually packaged care kits for houseless or otherwise people in need. Kits include a verity of different items from food and water to personal hygiene items. Kits are delivered directly person to person and in bulk to local community fridges/pantries. Supplies for this project were self-funded and from community donations.
Kits Distributed in 2023: +60
Kits Distributed in 2024: +40
PENNSYLVANIA NAME CHANGE BAN
Pennsylvania’s name change statute previously barred people with certain felony convictions from changing their names in court at any point in their lives. In addition to the name change petitions, TLDEF filed a brief asking the court to strike down the bar because it is inconsistent with Pennsylvania’s constitution and an expert declaration outlining the harms of restricting transgender people from legally changing their names.
Related Articles:
TLDEF, October 13, 2021 TLDEF Challenges Discriminatory PA Law Banning People with Felonies from Obtaining Name Changes
ReedSmith, December 8, 2021, Reed Smith and Transgender Legal Defense & Education Fund prevail in name change challenge
TLDEF, August 24, 2023, TLDEF Wins Name Change for Transgender Man in Challenge to Pennsylvania Felony Bar
Brooklyn Democratic Party Lawsuit
In March 2020, myself and five other trans and nonbinary people attempted to run for District Leader positions. As candidates, we did not mark our gender as either male or female on our petitions, and our petitions were disqualified by the Board of Elections. A lawsuit we filed lead to passing a new law allowing transgender and gender non-binary people to run for the borough party’s lowest rung of elected office.
Related Articles:
Brooklyn Paper, April 8, 2020, Non-Binary Political Candidates sue Brooklyn Dem over Gender Designations
Gay City News, January 5,2021, Brooklyn Dems Finally Allow Non-Binary Candidates to Run for Party Posts
GREENPOINTERS, January 8, 2021, Brooklyn Democrats Allow Nonbinary Candidates to Run for Office