Paterson to Extend Trans Protections

Less than two weeks after a stunning defeat for marriage equality in the New York state senate, Gov. David Paterson plans to issue an executive order that would extend antidiscrimination protections to transgender state employees.

The New York Times City Room blog reported Tuesday morning on the executive order, which Paterson is expected to announce at the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Community Center in Manhattan Wednesday morning.

"The order, which the governor plans to sign on Wednesday, represents the broadest protections ever extended to transgender public employees in New York State," reports the Times. "A number of cities throughout the state, including Buffalo, Albany, Rochester and New York City, already prohibit discrimination on the basis of gender identity or gender expression."

The executive order, which represents the limits of the governor's authority to provide trans protections, only covers state employees who work under the executive branch.

More comprehensive legislation to outlaw discrimination based on gender identity and expression, called the Gender Expression Non-Discrimination Act, has passed the state assembly but awaits action in the state senate.