NYCLU Applauds Assembly Passage of Full Women’s Equality Act

The New York State Assembly this afternoon re-affirmed its commitment to gender equity and passed the full Women’s Equality Act for the second time. The 80-36 vote came six months after the Senate failed to vote on the full agenda despite overwhelming public support for it and the positive impact the legislation would have on the lives of all of New York’s 10 million women.

“Today’s Assembly vote is an important step toward a more fair and equitable state for all New Yorkers,” said New York Civil Liberties Union Executive Director Donna Lieberman. “Our Assembly members recognize that every single measure of the Women’s Equality Act is critically important, including access to reproductive health care. The Senate needs to stop playing politics and stand up for the health and wellbeing of all New York women’s lives.”

The Women’s Equality Act (A.8070), targets the barriers that perpetuate discrimination and inequality including commonsense measures to achieve pay equity, stop sexual harassment, prevent pregnancy discrimination in all workplaces, strengthen human trafficking laws and protections for domestic violence survivors, and protect women’s reproductive health care decisions.

Despite overwhelming support last year—80 percent of New Yorkers support the reproductive health measures of the Act and 89 percent support its equal pay provisions—the Senate refused to vote on the full bill.