New York Passes Trans Civil Rights

New York’s legislature passed GENDA the Gender Expression Non-Discrimination Act that will ensure New Yorkers protections from discrimination on the basis of gender identity & expression in employment, housing & public accommodations. The legislature also passed a ban on the dangerous & discredited practice of conversion therapy. Mel King, Development and Operations Manager at Equality Federation stated, “As a transgender New Yorker, I couldn’t be more proud of my state. All of us, including transgender people & our families, should be able to get a job, rent an apartment & be in the world without the fear of discrimination.” Glennda Testone, Executive Director of The LGBT Community Center added, "This hard-fought victory is a result of more than a decade of dedicated activism, bravery & persistence, led by transgender, gender nonconforming & nonbinary advocates & allies across New York State & beyond. We applaud our legislature’s steadfast leadership & commitment to civil rights as we look forward to continuing our work to build a stronger, more inclusive New York State where all lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender & queer people are welcomed, affirmed and fully protected." Dina Marie, Executive Board of the New York Transgender Advocacy Group (NYTAG) concluded, “Transgender & non-binary people need to feel safe within their own communities where they live & work & are contributing & vibrant members. While Governor Cuomo affirmed his support for trans people with an executive order in 2015, today’s passage of GENDA is the final step to the reality that for the State of New York, human rights really do include everyone.” (Graphic by Richard Emmanuel)
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