The Human Rights Campaign, the nation’s largest LGBTcivil rights organization, praised the New York Assembly for passing AB 5039, a bill adding gender identity and expression to the state non-discrimination laws by a vote of 78-53. This is the third time the Assembly has passed a comprehensive gender identity non-discrimination bill. The legislation now moves to the Senate for consideration.
“We congratulate the New York Assembly for moving forward these critical protections,” said HRC President Joe Solmonese. “Gender identity and expression should not be factored into an individual’s access to education, employment, housing or public accommodations. We call on the New York Senate to swiftly take up and pass this legislation.”
“I am proud that today I and my colleagues in the Assembly voted by a wide margin, 78-53, once again in support of offering long overdue protections to those most in need,” said New York State Assembly Member and key sponsor of the legislation, Daniel O’Donnell. “Transgender individuals all across New York State currently live in fear of being fired from a job or denied housing based upon gender expression; this must be changed. New York will be a stronger, more just place when we all can live secure in the knowledge that our government protects us.”
AB 5039 would amend the state non-discrimination laws to add gender identity and expression to the list of characteristics protected from discrimination in employment, education, public accommodations, housing and credit. It would also add gender identity and expression to the state hate crimes law.
If passed by the Senate and signed into law, New York would become the 16th US state, along with the District of Columbia, to provide protections based on gender identity or expression. Earlier this year, Connecticut (Governor’s signature expected, but still pending), Hawaii and Nevada passed similar protections.
For maps of nondiscrimination laws in the states, please visit: www.HRC.org/State_Laws.
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