“It’s up to us to take a stand for the rights of all New Yorkers. All too often, transgender individuals come face to face with bigotry, inequality and discrimination solely because of who they are. From housing to health care, the essentials that so many of us take for granted are regularly denied. As it has for over a decade, the Assembly Majority once again passed the Gender Expression Non-Discrimination Act (GENDA) to protect the rights of transgender and gender-nonconforming New Yorkers and make gender identity and expression one of the state’s protected classes (A.3358).

“Last year, at least 28 transgender individuals lost their lives to fatal violence – the highest number recorded to date.1 This year, there have already been eight, including a woman in New York.2 Transgender people are more likely to be harassed at work, become homeless and be denied essential services. That’s no way for anyone to live.

“Here in New York, though, we know that everyone deserves respect. While city- and county-level initiatives to protect trans rights have been a start, it’s critical that we pass GENDA and put statewide protections in place so no New Yorker has to fear for their life or livelihood because of their gender identity. Undermining trans people’s personhood and denying them basic rights is unfair and shameful.”

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1. hrc.org/resources/violence-against-the-transgender-community-in-2018

2. Ibid.