New York Bans Transgender Discrimination and Conversion Therapy

On Jan. 25, 2019, Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed a bill into law adding an addendum to New York’s anti-discrimination law protecting individuals based on their gender identity and expression.

Cuomo signed the bill at Manhattan’s Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Center. He also banned conversion therapy for minors, in which a therapist or medical professional tries to change an individual’s gender identity or sexual orientation. Conversion therapy has been condemned by the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, American Medical Association and other psychological organizations.

Republicans have had the majority in the state Senate for the past 10 years, but that changed in November when Democrats won control. Both bills passed the state Assembly and Senate on Jan. 15. The last LGBT bill passed in the state Senate was the Marriage Equality Act in 2011. The most recent bill protecting the transgender community was sponsored by Sen. Brad Hoylman.

The Gender Identity Non-Discrimination Act, or GENDA, passed the Assembly in 2008 but failed to pass the Republican-led Senate. The anti-discrimination bill adds gender expression and identity to the existing law banning discrimination based on age, race, sexual orientation or gender.

At the signing ceremony, Cuomo stated that New York has always been the most progressive state in America and is the home of the LGBT movement. By signing GENDA into law, it will ban the dangerous and false practice of conversion therapy. New York is taking another step in protecting all New Yorkers regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity. He also added there is no place for hate in New York, and anybody who acts in a biased manner or discriminates will be held accountable.

Cuomo also denounced the Supreme Court’s decision to uphold the transgender military ban issued by the Trump administration. He said that even though the Supreme Court says it is perfectly fine to discriminate against transgenders serving in the military, New York says you cannot.

Cuomo has issued past executive orders which had the same effect as the new laws. However, a new governor could overturn them.

Chad Griffin, president of the Human Rights Campaign, said that the new laws would save lives and never would have passed without the work of allies and advocates over the past decade in New York.

A statement issued by Sam Brinton, head of advocacy at the Trevor Project, the world’s largest crisis intervention and suicide prevention organization for LGBT young people proclaimed that legal protection from discrimination is the start to building a society in which people can thrive despite their gender identity or sexual orientation. Brinton said they are grateful to New York’s Gov. Cuomo for signing the legislation.

New York is the 20th state to ban discrimination based on gender identity and sexual orientation. Wisconsin has a law protecting people only on sexual orientation and several other states bans include both but cover state employees. New York is the 15th state to ban conversion therapy.

Written by Barbara Sobel

Sources:

Daily Mail: New York bans transgender discrimination and the use of conversion therapy on children
Advocate: New York’s Gov. Cuomo Signs Trans Rights Bill, Conversion Therapy Ban
CBS News: Transgender discrimination, conversion therapy banned in New York

Featured and Top Image Courtesy of Shina Suzuki’s Flickr Page – Creative Commons License