Wednesday, January 18, 2017

The Battle Is Not Over

Way back in 2002 there was a bill in the New York state legislature called Sexual Orientation Non-Discrimination Act (SONDA) included gender identity and expression, but with backroom deals we were pulled from SONDA bill and we were promised that they will come back for us. Fast forward to 2016, after still not passing the Gender Expression Non-Discrimination Act (GENDA) bill they claim victory with the governor signing a regulation banning gender identity/expression discrimination.
Advocates push Cuomo for transgender protections
News 12 Long Island
January 17, 2017

WOODBURY - Advocates are urging Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo to take new actions to protect transgender New Yorkers in 2017.

Dozens of national and state organizations delivered a letter to Cuomo, a Democrat, pushing for the passage of the controversial Gender Expression Non-Discrimination Act, or GENDA.

Juli Grey-Owens, head of the Long Island Transgender Advocacy Coalition, says while the group is thankful for Cuomo's 2015 executive action granting protections for transgender citizens, the human rights law on the books in New York has no mention of gender identity, gender expression or transgender protections.

She adds that current state law leaves tens of of [sic] thousands of people without basic protections when it comes to housing, employment and public accommodations.
Don’t hold your breath; no one wants to support our rights! The New York Empire Pride declared victory and wants to move on to other Gay and Lesbian issues. You won’t see any GENDA legislation being introduced. They wiped their hands of us.

For them the battle is over and the wounded can fight for themselves.

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