Albany, New York — The non-discrimination bill known as GENDA died in the Senate Judiciary Committee this morning angering New York State Senator Tom Duane, D-Manhattan, who is sponsored the legislation with Assemblyman Richard Gottfried, D- Manhattan.
The legislation, would have prohibited discrimination based on gender identity or expression; and included New Yorker's gender identity or expression within the list of offenses subject to treatment as hate crimes.
The New York Daily News reports that 11 Republicans on the Judiciary Committee voted down the bill, plus Democratic state Sen. Ruben Diaz Sr. of the Bronx. State Senator George Maziarz, R- Niagara County had indicated that he would support the bill but voted in committee to defeat the measure.
Senator Duane told the Daily News. "it is now yet again confirmed that the Senate is a cesspool of homophobia and transphobia," said Duane, who is openly gay. "The advocates wanted to go through a committee... I believe that we should have brought GENDA through Rules and brought it right to the floor so as to deny the right-wing fringe the ability to organize against GENDA with their lies and distortions."
The state Conservative Party urged lawmakers, via legislative memo, to oppose a bill. Conservative Party memo included several outright lies.
The Conservative Party recently endorsed State Senate Candidate and Erie County Legislator Tim Kenney, a Buffalo Democrat. The Conservative Party of New York State often requires their endorsed candidates to be against lgbt civil rights legislation.
"If this bill is enacted, how safe will our most vulnerable be? Will sexual predators be able to stalk victims by claiming they are allowed to enter the restroom because they are protected by law? Proponents of the bill say they are the ones being discriminated against, but what about the rights of the majority of New Yorkers who expect restrooms to accommodate their sex only?" they say.
"Many larger public places offer unisex facilities at the present time, if this law is enacted, the cost to business could be prohibitive and if small businesses cannot provide for unisex restrooms, trial lawyers will ultimately put them out of business," the party's statement continues. "The majority of people do not want the opposite sex in their restrooms, no matter how they are dressed or feel about their bodies. People using public restrooms have a right to privacy that enactment of this proposal would erode."
Proponents of the bill, such as the Empire State Pride Agenda, say it's about much more than bathrooms, of course: "Currently it is legal in New York to be fired from your job, kicked out of your home or be denied credit or public accommodations (like service in a restaurant) simply for being transgender."
—Tim Moran
