Transgender woman suffers from disability, Brooklyn judge rules
A transgender woman who alleged discrimination at a residential drug rehabilitation may proceed with her suit, Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Debra Silber ruled.
Sabrina Wilson, a male-to-female transgender woman, fled Phoenix House, a drug detoxification and rehabilitation center with facilities located throughout New York, including three in Brooklyn, after being denied the ability to fully express her female identity.
Wilson, 32, was arrested in 2008 on a drug offense and agreed to enroll in a drug rehab center in lieu of prison. Having been diagnosed with gender identity disorder when she was 16, Wilson had struggled with her identity for years and had yet to make the physical transformation from male to female.
Upon arriving at Phoenix House, Wilson made it clear to Phoenix House staff that while she is biologically male, she identifies with the female gender. Notwithstanding her gender identification, Wilson was required to use the male restrooms and sit with the male population during group sessions, and was told to remove her wigs, makeup and high heels despite the fact that biological women wear able to don such attire.