For 11 years in a row, the New York state Assembly has approved legislation prohibiting discrimination based on gender identity.
And for the 11th year in a row, the Republican-controlled NY state Senate has killed that bill in committee. The legislation failed today on a party line 5-4 vote.
The Gender Expression Non-Discrimination Act, or GENDA, was defeated today in the New York Senate Investigations & Government Operations Committee.
GENDA would add “gender identity or expression” to the language of the existing NYS Human Rights Law that prohibits discrimination in the areas of employment, health care, housing, public transportation, public accommodations, and credit.
Sen. Brad Hoylman, the only openly LGBT member of the New York state Senate and the ranking Democrat on the committee, was disgusted.
“In 21st century New York State, it’s appalling that Senate Republicans would vote along party lines against GENDA,” said a statement from Hoylman’s office. “Human rights shouldn’t be a partisan issue – and they aren’t in other states.”
Hoylman lost no time pointing out that New Hampshire’s GOP-controlled legislature passed protections for LGBT folks this month. It’s now possible that New York will be the only state in the northeast without statewide protections for trans people.
"As the Trump Administration continues to roll back protections for LGBT Americans, New York has the obligation to protect its transgender citizens from discrimination and hate crimes,” Hoylman added. "Unfortunately, the State Senate failed miserably in its duties. Moving forward, I’ll continue to fight for passage of GENDA in a new State Senate after the midterms.”
