Carmelyn Malalis
Photo Courtesy of the Mayor’s Office
Mayor Bill de Blasio last week announced his appointment of Carmelyn Malalis as the new chairwoman of the city’s Commission on Human Rights and named eight new commissioners to the agency.
Malalis and the commissioners—Ana Oliveira, Catherine Albisa, Arnaldo Segarra, Domna Stanton, Steven Choi, Rabbi Sharon Kleinbaum, Jonathan Greenspun and the Rev. Dr. Demetrius Carolina—will be charged with leading the agency’s efforts to enforce the city’s human rights law, and with educating the public about it and encouraging positive community relations.
Malalis, most recently a partner at Outten & Golden LLP and the co-chair of the firm’s LGBT Workplace Rights and Disability and Family Responsibilities Discrimination practice groups, has represented and advised clients in employment discrimination suits, as well as other employment-related matters. During her time at Outten & Golden LLP, Malalis has represented employees in matters involving claims of sexual harassment and discrimination based on race, national origin, sex, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, pregnancy, disability and religious discrimination, among others.
“Hailing from Brooklyn to Brazil and ranging from rabbis to pastors, [Friday’s] appointees represent a diverse, progressive and exceptionally qualified group sharing an unwavering commitment to safeguard the rights and dignity of all people in New York City,” de Blasio said. “I’m confident that with Carmelyn at the helm of CCHR, this agency will be a robust enforcer of our fundamental civil rights and improve community relations among New Yorkers throughout the five boroughs.”
Malalis, who is a member of the city Bar Association’s Executive Committee, also co-chairs the Diversity in the Legal Profession Committee of the American Bar Association Labor and Employment Law Section. She previously served as an advisory committee member of the LGBT Rights Project at the Human Rights Watch, chairwoman of the New York City Bar Association’s Committee on LGBT Rights, and board member of Queers for Economic Justice.
By Forum Staff
