56harrisond

Last week, I was fired from my job as a New York City Administrative Law Judge. This came after a member of the City Council took issue with tweets I wrote in response to their bigoted and misguided statements about drag queens and about the queer community at large. The Council member and news outlets also took this opportunity to expose me for unrelated x-rated work, none of which occurred during or at work for the City. It is disappointing that the City of New York decided to take the side of a documented bigot instead of seizing an opportunity to stand against ever-growing anti-LGBTQ hatred, particularly the fervent hatred toward the trans and nonbinary communities. The ethics rules guiding New York City Administrative Law Judges do not require a judge to abstain from politics or political speech. I remain steadfast in my insistence that my tweets, even if not polite, did not violate any ethical guidelines. The most vulnerable members of the queer community are fighting for their lives, and the only people offended by my tweets are those more interested in policing language than opposing policies and politics which kill. I will continue my private work, using my legal skills to represent paid clients, and to offer pro bono services for members of the LGBTQ community who need it most. I will also continue my work on OF and JFF. Sex work, including porn, is not shameful, and I will not filter my thoughts and actions to appease those who enact harm on my community. This started not as a political disagreement, but as a human one. A politician used their influence to win this battle, underscoring just how important it is -- now more than ever -- to stand up against bigotry and ensure the protection of the rights of the most vulnerable.