[Commentary] [NY, USA] Senate blocking bill to protect transgender residents
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Stephanie Stevens
May 17, 2012, 8:55:37 AM5/17/12
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Buffalo News, NY, USA
Another Voice / Civil rights
Senate blocking bill to protect transgender residents
By Melissa Goodman
Published:May 17, 2012, 12:00 AM
Updated: May 17, 2012, 5:42 AM
A decade ago, voters in Buffalo approved a local law that provided
full civil rights protections to transgender residents.
But New York State, despite its proud, progressive history, has fallen
behind its second-largest city — and 16 states — in protecting the
essential civil rights of hundreds of thousands of transgender and
gender non-conforming residents.
For these New Yorkers, the simplest and most fundamental parts of
their identity — their clothing, their appearance, their name—expose
them to hostility, exclusion and sometimes even violence.
People who are transgender or whose appearance does not conform to
gender stereotypes often suffer persistent discrimination and
harassment. They face challenges earning a living, finding housing and
enjoying life’s necessities and simple pleasures.
But there is no state law that explicitly prohibits discrimination
against transgender or gender non-conforming people. The Gender
Expression Non- Discrimination Act, or GENDA, will remedy this
injustice. Passed on April 30 by the Assembly, GENDA has the broad
support of legislators, law enforcement and advocacy groups that seek
to guarantee civil-rights protections and safety — for everyone.
Like all New Yorkers, transgender and gender non-conforming people
deserve freedom from harassment, mistreatment and exclusion. Everyone
deserves equal access to housing, employment, education and public
facilities, like restaurants, stores and doctor’s offices.
New Yorker Kym Dorsey lived the first half of her life as Kenny before
transitioning to life as a woman. “We are all human,” Dorsey observed.
“We bleed the same. We are taxpayers — we have sisters, mothers,
brothers, uncles. Who decides who’s better, who’s more deserving of
humanity?”
We can’t afford to look the other way when the rights of any New
Yorkers are violated. Ending institutionally approved discrimination
is a matter of essential civil and human rights.
It is a nonpartisan issue that merits the support of every elected
leader in the state — and members of the New York State Senate in
particular.
Enacting GENDA is not a radical departure from long-held values. Many
of New York’s towns, cities and counties have, like Buffalo, enacted
laws that prohibit discrimination based on gender expression and
gender identity.
But all New Yorkers deserve the same protection. The right to live
free from discrimination should not depend on a person’s ZIP code.
--
Melissa Goodman is senior litigation and public policy counsel for the
New York Civil Liberties Union.
Copyright 1999 - 2012 - The Buffalo News
http://www.buffalonews.com/editorial-page/from-our-readers/another-voice/article860342.ece
Another Voice / Civil rights
Senate blocking bill to protect transgender residents
By Melissa Goodman
Published:May 17, 2012, 12:00 AM
Updated: May 17, 2012, 5:42 AM
A decade ago, voters in Buffalo approved a local law that provided
full civil rights protections to transgender residents.
But New York State, despite its proud, progressive history, has fallen
behind its second-largest city — and 16 states — in protecting the
essential civil rights of hundreds of thousands of transgender and
gender non-conforming residents.
For these New Yorkers, the simplest and most fundamental parts of
their identity — their clothing, their appearance, their name—expose
them to hostility, exclusion and sometimes even violence.
People who are transgender or whose appearance does not conform to
gender stereotypes often suffer persistent discrimination and
harassment. They face challenges earning a living, finding housing and
enjoying life’s necessities and simple pleasures.
But there is no state law that explicitly prohibits discrimination
against transgender or gender non-conforming people. The Gender
Expression Non- Discrimination Act, or GENDA, will remedy this
injustice. Passed on April 30 by the Assembly, GENDA has the broad
support of legislators, law enforcement and advocacy groups that seek
to guarantee civil-rights protections and safety — for everyone.
Like all New Yorkers, transgender and gender non-conforming people
deserve freedom from harassment, mistreatment and exclusion. Everyone
deserves equal access to housing, employment, education and public
facilities, like restaurants, stores and doctor’s offices.
New Yorker Kym Dorsey lived the first half of her life as Kenny before
transitioning to life as a woman. “We are all human,” Dorsey observed.
“We bleed the same. We are taxpayers — we have sisters, mothers,
brothers, uncles. Who decides who’s better, who’s more deserving of
humanity?”
We can’t afford to look the other way when the rights of any New
Yorkers are violated. Ending institutionally approved discrimination
is a matter of essential civil and human rights.
It is a nonpartisan issue that merits the support of every elected
leader in the state — and members of the New York State Senate in
particular.
Enacting GENDA is not a radical departure from long-held values. Many
of New York’s towns, cities and counties have, like Buffalo, enacted
laws that prohibit discrimination based on gender expression and
gender identity.
But all New Yorkers deserve the same protection. The right to live
free from discrimination should not depend on a person’s ZIP code.
--
Melissa Goodman is senior litigation and public policy counsel for the
New York Civil Liberties Union.
Copyright 1999 - 2012 - The Buffalo News
http://www.buffalonews.com/editorial-page/from-our-readers/another-voice/article860342.ece
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