Skip to content
Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

Trans Woman Wins Case Against Real Estate Broker Who Sexually Harassed Her And Told Her She Couldn't Live Near 'People Or Children'

Trans Woman Wins Case Against Real Estate Broker Who Sexually Harassed Her And Told Her She Couldn't Live Near 'People Or Children'
Giana Desir/Facebook

In 2015, Giana Desir of Brooklyn, New York faced the prospect of homelessness after being denied a lease renewal for an apartment she had lived in for two years. While living in the apartment, Desir began her transition from assigned male to female.

Like many transgender people, Desir had difficulty finding a place to live as her authentic self.


Needing assistance, Desir turned to a real estate broker. But rather than help, Henry Walter and Empire State Realty Management only offered housing discrimination and sexual harassment.

Initial interactions on the phone were characterized as "jovial." However once Desir met Walter, things quickly turned sour.

In her complaint, Desir claimed upon their first meeting, Walter said:

"Why didn't you tell me you were transgender? Thank God, I had you come here at night. What would people have thought if they had seen you."

Once Walter realized Desir was a transgender woman, he told her he couldn't rent her an apartment near "people or children." He suggested she live in a basement.

The broker then made inappropriate comments about her genitalia, her transition, her sex life and then said he would "spank" her with his "ruler." Walter told her not to tell anyone he helped her because they would assume he let her suck his "d*ck."

Desir knew her rights had been violated so she filed a formal complaint against both Walter and his company. Last year an administrative judge awarded Desir $15,000 in compensation. Walter was also ordered to pay a $10,000 civil penalty.

On March 2, 2020 the New York Human Rights Commission increased Desir's compensation to $50,000 and Walter's civil penalty to $15,000-$25,000. Should Walter and his company participate in training on trans rights and sexual harassment they will pay the lesser amount.

Commissioner on Human Rights Carmelyn Malalis wrote:

"It is understandably damaging for someone such as Ms. Desir to have their gender identity—their deeply-felt sense of self—questioned, rejected, and sexualized, especially when in a vulnerable housing situation and having experienced the accumulated impact of past discrimination from others."
"The specific harm perpetrated against Ms. Desir is a reflection of the all-to-common experiences of transgender people, especially transgender women of color, that society has tolerated and ignored for all too long."

Assistant Commissioner Katherine Carroll told Gothamist:

"Having a decision on the books that lays out what these protections are very clearly makes it much easier for us to prosecute similar claims in the future because we can say, 'Here is a published decision and order that says you cannot discriminate against people who are trans, or gender-non-conforming—on the basis of anyone's gender identity, you cannot discriminate against them."

Walter and his company failed to participate in any way in the discrimination complaint or resolution process.

Carroll stated:

"There are bad actors in the city who think they can get away in not engaging when they receive a complaint of discrimination and think it'll just go away. [But Desir's case shows New York will collect the money and] takes it very seriously."

Giana Desir also hopes her case will help others.

"I know a lot of my friends who could not get apartments even though they were able to pay for the apartments because of their gender identity."
"I hope this creates an even playing field for us. I hope this opens people's eyes in hiring transgender women."

After all, trans rights are human rights.

This shirt is available here.

Amazon

More from Trending

Jonathan Bailey
Cindy Ord/Getty Images for SiriusXM; @fallontonight/YouTube

Jonathan Bailey Has A Clarinet Solo On The 'Jurassic World Rebirth' Soundtrack—And It's Too Cute

Jonathan Bailey seems to be making a career that involves living out the dreams of his younger self.

With the new Jurassic Park sequel, Bailey got to live every dinosaur kid's dream and be in a movie with them. He was also able to get his orchestra geek on while the score was being recorded.

Keep ReadingShow less
Right-Wingers Roasted Over Bonkers Conspiracy That Oil Is Secretly A Renewable Energy Source
Ezra Acayan/Getty Images

Right-Wingers Roasted Over Bonkers Conspiracy That Oil Is Secretly A Renewable Energy Source

Right wingers basically never met an absurd conspiracy theory they wouldn't immediately fall for, and their favorite one about petroleum is a doozie.

Many conservatives are convinced that oil—you know, the stuff made of millions-year-old fossils compressed underground—is actually a renewable energy source. "They" are just not telling us!

Keep ReadingShow less
Donald Trump sitting at his desk in the oval office; An elderly Black woman
Joe Raedle / Staff/Getty Images; @funnyphilduck/TikTok

Grandma Goes Viral After Refusing To Say Trump's Name During Medical Evaluation

When a healthcare professional tries to determine someone's cognitive abilities, they tend to ask a few routine questions.

These can include "do you know where you are?" and "what year is it?" Oftentimes, medical professionals ask "do you know who the President of the United States is?"

Keep ReadingShow less
Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Alex Wong/Getty Images

RFK Jr. Admits That Banning Fluoridated Water Will Cause 'More Cavities'—But He's OK With That

Health and Human Services Secretary (HHS) Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was criticized after admitting in a Fox News interview with Harris Faulkner that his proposed fluoridated water ban would likely lead people to have more cavities—but defended the move nonetheless.

While fluoride is not federally mandated in drinking water, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) had long recommended its inclusion. Fluoride helps prevent cavities by strengthening enamel, and numerous studies have shown that fluoridated water reduces tooth decay in both children and adults.

Keep ReadingShow less
Screenshot of Jesse Watters discussing Zohran Mamdani
Fox News

Jesse Watters Dragged After Trying To Give Mamdani A Scary Nickname That's Actually Kind Of Epic

Fox News personality Jesse Watters was widely mocked after he tried to give New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani a scary nickname in the vein of Conan the Destroyer—only for it to backfire considerably.

Watters is the latest member of the GOP to lash out at Mamdani, a democratic socialist who handily defeated former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo in New York City's Democratic mayoral primary last week.

Keep ReadingShow less