Senator Anna M. Kaplan Announces Co-Sponsorship of Legislation Supporting the LGBTQ Community

(Albany, NY) -- Today, Senator Anna M. Kaplan (D-Great Neck) has announced that she is co-sponsoring several important pieces of legislation that support LGBTQ New Yorkers, and is urging her colleagues in both houses to come together and pass these bills this session.

“We made a lot of progress last year in the fight for equality, but we recognize that we still have a lot to do" said Senator Anna M. Kaplan. "At a time when the rights of LGBTQ people are under constant assault, it's important that we pass bills that protect and strengthen those rights here in New York."

One of the bills for which Senator Kaplan filed co-sponsorship today is S.1478, sponsored by Senator Brad Hoylman, which would ensure age-appropriate LGBTQ history is taught in schools to help students understand the historic treatment of LGBTQ people and the modern LGBTQ rights movement which began in New York State.

"The LGBTQ rights movement started right here in New York State, when courageous New Yorkers, tired of being treated as second and third class citizens, stood up to oppression and said 'enough is enough.' It's a history that we should always remember, lest we be doomed to repeat it," Senator Kaplan continued.

The bills that Senator Kaplan is co-sponsoring to support and protect LGBTQ New Yorkers include:

• LGBT History & Awareness Curriculum: This bill, S.1478, would require the establishment of age-appropriate LGBT awareness curriculum or instruction
• New York State Supplier Diversity Act: This bill, S.49, establishes a new Division of Supplier Diversity within the Office of General Services to encourage greater diversity in New York State's procurement process by ensuring equal access to contracting opportunities for certified LGBT, disability, and veteran-owned small businesses.
• Modern Family Birth Certificate Act: This bill, S.46, requires that parents have the option of appearing on their children's birth certificates as either "father," "mother," or "parent."
• The Michael Sandy Act: This bill, S.1484, makes evidence of a defendant and victim in a hate crime case sharing the same protected category inadmissible unless the court finds it to be essential to the understanding of the crime based on proof.
• The Hate Crimes Analysis and Review Act: This bill, S.6066B, ensures that New York State collects and reports data on the sexual orientation, gender identity and racial or ethnic identity of victims and alleged perpetrators.
• The lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender long-term care facility residents' bill of rights: This bill, S.2912C, establishes rights and protections for LGBTQ New Yorkers living in long-term care facilities.

Senator Kaplan concluded, "I'm proud to co-sponsor these bills to support the LGBTQ residents of my district and those around the state, and I'm grateful for the leadership of Senator Brad Hoylman in introducing these important bills, and so many more that have improved the lives of LGBTQ New Yorkers."