NY Assembly Passes GENDA

The New York State assembly passed a bill Wednesday that would protect transgender people under the state's Human Rights Law.

The 91-40 vote on the Gender Expression Non-Discrimination Act, or GENDA, came with bipartisan support. This is the third time GENDA has passed in the assembl,y but it has yet to pass in the senate, according to the Empire State Pride Agenda.

Gov. David Paterson recently issued an executive order to ban discrimination based on gender identity and expression for state employees.

Currently only 13 states and Washington, D.C., have laws to protect transgender people from employment, financial, public accommodation, and housing discrimination. Some cities and counties in New York, including Rochester and New York City, have standing GENDA laws.

"By eliminating the fear of losing their jobs, homes, and fair treatment in communities across the state, we can make certain that every New Yorker receives equal opportunities regardless of gender identity," assembly member Richard Gottfried, who sponsored the bill, told the Empire State News.