Letter from the Commissioner

Dear Colleagues,

Earlier this week, The New York Times reported that the Trump administration is considering a move to create a legal definition of sex that could be narrowly defined as: "male or female, unchangeable, and determined by the genitals that a person is born with." This proposed definition would erase the experiences of transgender, and gender nonconforming (TGNC), and intersex people, reducing their access to safety, protections, and services under the law while denying their basic humanity and right to exist. Moreover, re-defining sex in this way goes against the medical community's current understanding of sex and biology.

At the Mayor's Office to End Domestic and Gender-Based Violence (ENDGBV), we support and stand with TGNC and intersex communities. We know that, more often than not, the dehumanization and erasure of an individual's identity go hand in hand with increased violence of all kinds—including hate-based violence, intimate partner violence, and sexual violence. We are committed to ensuring that TGNC and intersex people, who are, disproportionately, survivors of such violence, are treated with dignity, and have access to City resources that affirm their humanity.

There is much work to be done if we are to continue shifting our culture so that gender-based-violence is considered unacceptable. At moments like these, it is critical that we come together to support those who are often most vulnerable. To TGNC and intersex survivors: ENDGBV stands with you. We will continue to support you and to advocate for you, and we will continue our work towards ending domestic and gender-based violence for all.

Cecile Noel
Commissioner, Mayor's Office to End Domestic and Gender-Based Violence