Rolling Out a New Campaign to Pass GENDA

On April 23, I joined New York State Senator Daniel Squadron and Assembly Member Richard Gottfried, the prime sponsors of the Gender Expression Non-Discrimination Act (GENDA), at a Housing Works press conference launching a new campaign calling for a vote on the bill this year and an end to the stalling of transgender civil rights in New York.

As the parent of a young child, I think about the protections I’d want for my daughter if she were transgender. I would want her to be treated with dignity and respect in a doctor’s office, school, on the streets, and everywhere else. But here in New York, there aren’t state laws to protect transgender people from discrimination in housing, education or employment. It’s little wonder, then, that more than half of all trans youth have contemplated suicide. We owe it to them–our children–to pass GENDA in the State Senate now. If GENDA becomes law, New York would join 16 states, the District of Columbia, and over 160 cities and counties with gender expression/identity protections

You can read more about the press conference and the new campaign for GENDA at Housing Works’ AIDS Issues Update blog here.