Senator Carlucci & Senate Majority Pass Equal Rights Amendment (ERA)

(Albany, NY) - Senator David Carlucci along with the Senate Democratic Majority advanced the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA), which will expand protections under New York State’s constitution for women, LGBTQ individuals, the elderly, and all New Yorkers living with a disability.

“The goal of the Equal Rights Amendment is inclusivity,” said Senator David Carlucci. “Every New Yorker deserves fair and equal treatment under the law regardless of gender, sexual orientation, disability or age. Now our constitution is brought into the 21st century protecting all New Yorkers.”

Currently, section 11 of New York State’s constitution only provides protection from public or private discrimination only on the basis of race, color, and creed. This section was adopted in 1938, prior to several monumental movements including the civil rights movement, the women's movement, the LGBTQ movement, the disability rights movement and the many other challenges to discrimination in our state and nation.

The Equal Rights Amendment (ERA), S. 517B, will:

• Expand the classifications that are covered under section 11 to include sex including pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, ethnicity, age, and disability.
• Define the term "civil rights" to make section 11 self-executing.