ALBANY, NY The New York Civil Liberties Union commended both houses of the New York State legislature today for passing the Gender Expression Non-Discrimination Act (GENDA), which codifies protections for transgender and gender non-conforming New Yorkers.
The New York State Assembly has voted for the last 12 years to explicitly add gender identity and expression to the categories protected by New York’s Human Rights Law, which prohibits discrimination in employment, housing, and public accommodations like hospitals, doctors’ offices and businesses that serve the public. Today, the New York State Senate voted on and passed the bill for the first time.
The NYCLU released the following statement from Executive Director Donna Lieberman:
“In the face of the Trump administration’s constant attacks on the rights of transgender and gender non-conforming people, the new progressive majority in Albany is starting off on the right foot by ensuring all New Yorkers are protected. Passing GENDA sends a clear message that the rights of transgender and gender non-conforming New Yorkers are not up for debate and will not be at risk of being thrown by the wayside with changing political winds.”