A much belated but heartfelt thanks to everyone who came out to SWP's first-ever fundraiser Flipping the Lens: SWP Looks Back - the event was a huge success and we were incredibly fortunate to see so much support for our work from so many fronts! We are incredibly grateful to our amazing host committee, sponsors, and volunteer event planner, to Gana Art for donating such an amazing space, and to all of you for making it an evening to be remembered! We look forward to bringing it back next year, and to seeing you all there.
SWP would like to invite all of you to join us in celebrating another fabulous organization — and a much valued partner of SWP's — the Sylvia Rivera Law Project (SRLP), which provides much needed legal services to low income transgender New Yorkers in civil matters including housing, social benefits, and name change advocacy, as well as advocacy on behalf of incarcerated transgender people. In addition to being fierce and dedicated advocates and organizers on multiple fronts for the rights of transgender people in New York City and across the country on a daily basis, over the past year, SRLP has played a crucial role in researching and drafting proposed changes to the New York City Police Department's Patrol Guide. These changes would represent an important step toward addressing widespread violations of transgender people's rights by NYPD officers by providing critical guidance and accountability for police officers on interactions with transgender New Yorkers. Sign a petition supporting the proposed changes here: www.ipetitions.com/petition/NYPDTransPolicy/.
SRLP has also served as an inspiration in practicing their politics by modeling real accountability to the communities they work with as well as intentional and thoughtful development of collective organizational structures.
SWP is also pleased and honored to announce that our new Director, Andrea Ritchie, is one of the recipients of this year's SRLP Outstanding Pro Bono Award. Also being honored is Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe. Orrick has devoted substantial resources to pro bono representation of the transgender community over the years, and co-counseled with SRLP and the New York Legal Assistance Group in a case concerning the rights of transgender Medicaid recipients to receive healthcare coverage. Orrick also represented Patreese Johnson, an African American lesbian, in the appeal of her criminal conviction arising out of an incident in which she was the victim of a homophobic attack. Most recently, Orrick has partnered with SRLP in providing representation to several transgender people in detention who are seeking name changes.
So join SWP in celebrating seven years of building on and honoring the legacy of Sylvia Rivera!
June 2, 2009 6:30 - 9:30pm
It will be a great space to hear updates about legal issues transgender law and network with other legal professionals while supporting SRLP's crucial work!
Tickets are $35-$250 sliding scale. You can pay at the door or make a donation online (but make sure to note you are purchasing tickets in the "designation field"). For more info, go to http://srlp.org/reception.