It’s been nearly 100 years since the Equal Rights Amendment was first proposed. Still, there is no federal or, equally surprisingly, New York State ERA. That means the sometimes thorny job of protecting women’s rights falls to the locals. In New York City, the person in charge of that effort is Carmelyn Malalis, Commissioner of Human Rights. She talks about some of the challenges faced by her office (like, what defines a “woman” in 2019? How do you make sure all 25 protected classes in NYC are being served equally?), and some of the wins her office has had in upholding individual rights. The Commission has passed and upheld laws for women in all kinds of categories, including private lactation rooms for new moms and greater protections for pregnancy, hair protection laws that say women (and men) can’t be forced to change their natural hair styles and, most notably, rules that protect women (and men – remember, laws that protect women end up adding protections for pretty much everyone) from sexual harassment or assault in the workplace. She also addresses how the #MeToo movement has made it easier for women to report difficult situations to the proper authorities.