If you were attacked, threatened or discriminated against
What to do after an attack or threats over your orientation or gender identity, and how to report discrimination at work, in housing and in public places, with or without citizenship.
Police investigate attacks and threats; City and state agencies handle discrimination. Your immigration status doesn't stop you from going to the police or filing a complaint.
If you were humiliated, turned away, fired or evicted because of your orientation, gender identity or status, it may be illegal discrimination. Deadlines apply, so don't wait.
Start here
- If you are still in danger, call 911.
- If you survived violence because of your orientation or gender identity, write to the NYC Anti-Violence Project (AVP) through the form at avp.org/get-help/report-violence: a counselor contacts you within 48 hours.
- Your status doesn't stop you from reporting a crime to the police or filing a discrimination complaint.
Get somewhere safe and call 911 if the danger has not passed
911 brings police and an ambulance. Call if the crime is happening now or you are hurt, and tell the dispatcher whether you need an ambulance. An attack or threat over orientation or gender identity is a hate crime. If you don't speak English, say "Russian" and an interpreter joins.
Write down the details while you remember them
The date, time and place, what happened and what was said, who was nearby, and the attackers' names and contacts if you know them. Keep photos, messages and recordings. You'll need all this for the police and for AVP.
Contact the NYC Anti-Violence Project (AVP)
AVP supports LGBTQ+ people and people affected by HIV who survived violence, including hate violence. Fill in the form at avp.org/get-help/report-violence at any time, and a counselor contacts you within 48 hours. If you need to talk to someone sooner, the hotline in English and Spanish is (212) 714-1141, Mon–Thu 10 am–6 pm, Fri 10 am–2 pm.
Decide whether to report to the police
You report a hate crime like any other: by 911 if it is happening now, or at the nearest police precinct if it already happened or no life is at risk. If police see a possible hate motive, the case goes to the NYPD Hate Crime Task Force. The NYPD says plainly that status doesn't stop you from reporting. If you're unsure, talk to an AVP counselor first.
Ask about free legal help
AVP's lawyers help LGBTQ+ survivors and people affected by HIV for free in Family Court (orders of protection, custody, support), Housing Court and Civil Court, and with immigration matters.
NYC Anti-Violence Project (AVP)
Supports LGBTQ+ people and people affected by HIV who survived hate violence, partner violence, sexual violence, pick-up violence and institutional violence, in all five boroughs: counseling, accompaniment and advocacy, free lawyers. Tuesdays and Wednesdays 12–4 pm: walk-in counseling (sometimes canceled for weather or short staffing).
NYPD Hate Crime Task Force
The NYPD investigators for hate crimes, including those over sexual orientation and being trans. Report by 911 or at the nearest precinct, and the case is passed to them. The NYPD website has a "How to Report Hate Crime" leaflet in Russian.
New York State Division of Human Rights (DHR), Hate and Bias Prevention Unit
The state Division of Human Rights (DHR) takes reports of hate crimes and bias incidents through an online form: forms.ny.gov/s3/DHR-Bias-Incident-Form. It is free and safe, and you can stay anonymous. It offers support, materials and referrals.
New York State Attorney General, Civil Rights Bureau
The state Attorney General's Civil Rights Bureau takes reports of hate crimes and bias incidents by email: civil.rights@ag.ny.gov.
What is protected in New York
| What the law and guidance say | |
|---|---|
| Sexual orientation | The City and state ban discrimination based on actual or perceived sexual orientation. |
| Gender identity and gender expression | The City and state ban discrimination based on actual or perceived gender identity and gender expression, including against trans and nonbinary people, whatever sex was recorded at birth. |
| Immigration status and citizenship | Protected by both the City and the state. You don't need to be a US citizen or a New York resident for City protection. State law does let employers refuse to hire people who aren't authorized to work in the US. |
| Name and pronouns | According to the City Commission on Human Rights, employers and others covered by the law must use your chosen name and pronouns, even if your documents show another name. |
| Restrooms, locker rooms and sex-segregated programs | The Commission treats it as discrimination to keep someone out of single-sex facilities and programs that match their gender. |
| Harassment | Gender-based harassment is discrimination, even if it happened once. You can complain to the Commission within three years. |
Name and pronouns: exceptions
This applies even if you haven't changed your name in court. The only exceptions are where another law requires otherwise, such as work authorization checks.
Restrooms and locker rooms: Legal Services NYC
Legal Services NYC (free legal help for LGBTQ+ people and people with HIV) says the same: you have the right to use the single-sex facilities that best fit your gender.
Discrimination at work, in housing and in public places: city, state and court
| What it handles | Deadline | How to start | |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York City Commission on Human Rights (CCHR), a City agency | Discrimination in New York City at work, in housing and in public places, harassment, and bias-based profiling by police (police acting against someone because of race, orientation, gender, status or other traits rather than their conduct) | One year from the last incident; three years for gender-based harassment | Report online at nyc.gov/ReportDiscrimination; for an official complaint, an appointment is booked only by phone, (212) 416-0197: say "Russian" and an interpreter joins. Free |
| New York State Division of Human Rights (DHR), a State agency | Discrimination at work, in housing, in public places, in education and in credit on 19 grounds, including orientation, gender identity, citizenship and immigration status | Three years from the last incident, if it happened on or after February 15, 2024 | Online at webapps.dhr.ny.gov/discrimination-report; no lawyer needed |
| Court (under city law) | The same complaints under the New York City law, brought in court instead of at the Commission | Three years from the discriminatory act | Usually through a lawyer; Legal Services NYC, for example, helps for free: (917) 661-4500, press 3 in the menu for Russian |
Check whether the case is covered
City law bans discrimination at work, in housing, in public places and in credit, plus harassment and bias-based profiling by police. State law covers work, housing, public places (shops, restaurants, hospitals, hotels), education and credit. Both protect sexual orientation, gender identity and immigration status.
Check the deadline and don't wait
Deadlines count from the last incident: one year at the City Commission (three years for gender-based harassment), three years at the state agency (for incidents from February 15, 2024), three years in court under City law. If you are not sure you're in time, ask right away.
Gather what you will be asked for
The date, a short description, the legal names and contacts of those you are complaining about, and your contacts. Keep messages, photos and letters.
Pick one route: city or state
The City Commission won't take a complaint if you already went to another agency or court on the same facts: the state agency, the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) or the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Decide first where to file; if unsure, ask a lawyer.
Make an appointment with the city Commission
Report through the form at nyc.gov/ReportDiscrimination. An online report is not yet an official complaint: for that you need an appointment, by phone or video, or in person when necessary, and the Commission books it only by phone, (212) 416-0197: say "Russian" and an interpreter joins. Office: 22 Reade Street, 3rd Floor, New York, NY 10007; bring photo ID to enter. Free.
Or go to the state Division of Human Rights
Fill in the Discrimination Reporting Form at webapps.dhr.ny.gov/discrimination-report: free, no lawyer needed. A copy comes to your email. The report is not yet an official complaint: the Division checks whether the law covers your case and, if it does, helps you file one. An investigation takes several months, sometimes longer.
If it is about work, decide separately whether you need a complaint at the EEOC too
In April 2026 the City Commission said it no longer forwards employment complaints to the EEOC itself. If you want the federal agency to review your case too, file with the EEOC separately, online in the EEOC Public Portal: publicportal.eeoc.gov. In New York the EEOC deadline is usually 300 days from the incident. Remember the Commission won't take a complaint already filed elsewhere on the same facts, so discuss the order with a lawyer.
If you are punished for complaining, report that too
City law bans retaliation, punishment for complaining about discrimination. If you are fired, evicted or punished another way after complaining, tell the Commission.
NYC Commission on Human Rights (CCHR)
Free
The City Commission on Human Rights. It takes complaints about discrimination at work, in housing and in public places, including health care, over orientation, gender identity or status. It protects everyone in New York City, tourists included: no citizenship or residency needed. Report online or book an appointment (the online form is not yet an official complaint).
New York State Division of Human Rights (DHR)
Free
The state Division of Human Rights. It takes discrimination reports through an online form, webapps.dhr.ny.gov/discrimination-report, and helps you file an official complaint. No lawyer needed.
Legal Services NYC, LGBTQ+ advocacy
Free
Free legal help for LGBTQ+ people and people with HIV: discrimination, eviction, health care problems, immigration defense, housing, benefits. Help depends on capacity and on where you live.
U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)
The federal agency for workplace discrimination. The City Commission no longer forwards complaints to it, so file yourself if needed, online in the EEOC Public Portal: publicportal.eeoc.gov.
- LGBTQ+
- Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and other people.
- Hate crime
- A crime committed because of someone's actual or perceived membership in a group, such as their sexual orientation or being trans. Police investigate it through the Hate Crime Task Force.
- Precinct
- A local police station. You report non-urgent crimes or past incidents there.
- Protected characteristic
- A trait on which the law prohibits discrimination, for example sexual orientation, gender identity or immigration status.
- Statute of limitations
- The time you have to file a complaint or lawsuit; it differs for the City Commission, the state agency and the courts.
- Gender expression
- How a person shows their gender: name, pronouns, clothes, hair, behavior. The law protects both identity and expression.
- Retaliation
- Punishment for complaining about discrimination, such as firing or eviction. City law bans it.
This is general information, not legal advice: QARAVAN has no lawyers. QARAVAN does not help anyone enter the US and cannot arrange visas, invitations, sponsorship or evacuation. For your own case, talk to a licensed immigration attorney or a representative accredited by the U.S. Department of Justice.
Sources, checked November 2026
- legalservicesnyc.org/resources/lgbtq-rights
- avp.org/get-help
- nyc.gov/site/cchr/index.page
- nyc.gov/site/nypd/services/law-enforcement/hate-crimes.page
- dhr.ny.gov/nohate
- dhr.ny.gov/complaint
- ag.ny.gov/coronavirus/reporting-hate-crimes
- eeoc.gov/contact-eeoc
- avp.org/get-help/report-violence
- forms.ny.gov/s3/DHR-Bias-Incident-Form
- webapps.dhr.ny.gov/discrimination-report
- nyc.gov/ReportDiscrimination