Two historic pieces of inclusive legislation have been passed in New York, giving members of the local LGBTIQ+ community reason to celebrate.
The first bill passed by State lawmakers in Albany earlier this week, the Gender Expression Non-Discrimination Act (GENDA), protects trans residents from discrimination, while the second will ban gay conversion therapy for young people - making New York the fifteenth state to do so.
Glennda Testone, executive director of The LGBT Community Center in New York City, celebrated the milestone moment, thanking the trans and gender non-conforming community for “more than a decade of dedicated activism, bravery, and persistence” in making GENDA a reality.
“By adding gender identity and expression as a protected class under the Human Rights Law, GENDA provides [trans and gender non-conforming] people with protection against harassment and discrimination in employment, housing, and public spaces like restaurants and shops," she said.
GLAAD's Zeke Stokes also celebrated the news, adding: “New York can be a model for the nation when it comes to standing up for transgender and non-binary people, who deserve to be treated fairly and equally under the law.”
New York will host the World Pride festival in July of this year.
