The New York Assembly approved Tuesday
a bill that bans transgender discrimination.
The chamber approved the Gender
Expression Non-Discrimination Act (GENDA), which would ban
discrimination based on gender identity and expression in the areas
of housing, employment, credit and public accommodations, for the
third time.
“Transgender New Yorkers shouldn't
have to live in fear that they lack basic protections and could lose
their job or be denied a lease on an apartment or service in a
restaurant just because of who they are,” Joe Tarver, interim
executive director of Empire
State Pride Agenda, the state's largest gay advocacy group, said
in a statement. “In passing this bill, the Assembly continues to
demonstrate its leadership on civil rights for lesbian, gay, bisexual
and transgender (LGBT) New Yorkers.”
While a final vote count has yet to be
released, previously a large majority (70% and higher) of members
voted in favor of the measure.
The bill now heads to the less liberal
Senate.
“The state Senate remains the only
obstacle to passing GENDA,” Tarver said. “It is now time for the
Senate to follow the Assembly's lead and end discrimination against
transgender New Yorkers once and for all by passing GENDA.”
New York Governor David Paterson signed
an executive order in December that protects transgender state
employees from discrimination. Only 12 states and the District of
Columbia have comprehensive laws outlawing transgender
discrimination.