Gender Expression Non-Discrimination Act

The Gender Expression Non-Discrimination Act (GENDA) is a proposed New York law which adds gender identity and expression as a protected class in the state's human rights and hate crimes laws, prohibiting discrimination in employment, housing, public accommodations and other areas, and providing enhanced penalties for bias-motivated crimes. It was first introduced in both the Assembly and Senate in 2003[1] and has been passed seven times in the Assembly since 2007,[2][3][4] but has never come to a vote on the floor of the State Senate. It is promoted as a priority of Empire State Pride Agenda, which previously promoted the SONDA law, which was enacted into law in 2003.

Separation of Space for Transgender People

Actress, producer and transgender advocate Laverne Cox has traveled to Albany, N.Y. in March 2013 to speak with New York State legislators to encourage them to pass GENDA. One major concern has been bathroom safety, and whether or not transgender people should have access to sex-segregated spaces that are consistent with their gender identities. In Rochester and Albany N.Y., there have been no instances of a transgender person abusing the law and using a segregated bathroom or locker room to harass or perform illegal acts, which proves that not only does it protect transgender people, but it also allows for a safe environment for everyone. [5]


See also

References

  1. ↑ 2003 Bill Numbers: A8319 (Gottfried)/S4457 (Duane)
  2. ↑
  3. ↑
  4. ↑ Silver, Sheldon, News Release, Assembly Approves Gender Expression Non-Discrimination Act, 2012-04-30
  5. ↑ Cox, Laverne. "Transgender Freedom Riders: The Fight for Transgender Equality in New York State". Huffington Post. Retrieved 2014-11-14.

External links