Survivors, Legal Experts, Advocates, and Lawmakers Hold Virtual Press Conference on 'Speak Your Truth Act'

Speakers will call on the New York state legislature to pass a bill to expand civil protections for survivors from retaliatory defamation lawsuits

NEW YORK, NY (04/22/2025) (readMedia)-- On Tuesday, survivors, legal experts, advocates, and lawmakers will hold a virtual press conference to shed light on the devastating impact retaliatory defamation lawsuits have on survivors, and how the 'Speak Your Truth Act' (A687/S2419) would strengthen protections for survivors across New York. Abusers are increasingly using defamation lawsuits, or just the threat of legal action, to silence their accusers. This is a tactic we've seen used in numerous high-profile cases, and in New York, it remains alarmingly easy to exploit. The 'Speak Your Truth Act' would change this.

The 'Speak Your Truth Act' would amend New York State Civil Rights Law to protect survivors' communications about incidents of sexual assault, harassment, or discrimination. It would also ensure that if abusers file defamation lawsuits over protected statements and lose, survivors can require them to cover their legal fees and pay for other resulting harm.

California passed a similar law in 2023, which attorneys for Blake Lively used last month to file a motion to dismiss Justin Baldoni's defamation lawsuit against their client. Survivors, legal experts, advocates, and lawmakers are urging the New York State legislature to pass 'Speak Your Truth' this session so survivors in New York are afforded the same protections.

Zoom link here.

WHO:

- Emily Miles, Executive Director of the New York City Alliance Against Sexual Assault

- Alison Anderson, Partner at Boies Schiller Flexner LLP, who co-leads the sexual misconduct practice

- Victoria Burke, Attorney and Adjunct Professor of Law, survivor, and architect of the ‘Speak Your Truth’ model legislation passed in California and introduced in states across the country

- Erica Vladimer, Co-Founder of the Sexual Harassment Working Group

- Katie Brennan, survivor, advocate, and NJ State Assembly candidate who spoke out after being assaulted by a senior NJ state official and was later sued for defamation

- Assemblymember Jessica González-Rojas, who sponsors the bill in the New York State Assembly

- State Senator Brad Hoylman-Sigal, who sponsors the bill in the New York State Senate

- Assemblymember Jo Anne Simon

- State Senator Andrew Gounardes
WHAT:

A virtual press conference on a bill in Albany, the 'Speak Your Truth Act’, that will keep abusers from silencing survivors in New York. 
WHEN: Tuesday April 22, 2025 at 10:00AM Eastern Time (US & Canada)
WHERE: Zoom
New York
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