Wolfe: All Citizens Deserve Equal Protection

NEW CITY, NY — From the Rockland County Legislature:

The Rockland County Legislature is calling upon the New York State Senate to reconsider and pass the Gender Expression Non-Discrimination Act, known as “GENDA.”

The legislation prohibits discrimination based on gender identity or expression and amends the state hate crimes statutes to include offenses regarding gender identity or expression.

Legislators voted 14-0 Tuesday to back the county resolution, which was sponsored by Legislator Alden H. Wolfe.

“How appropriate that we should vote on this matter the same week that we celebrate the 241st anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, with its famous decree that all men are created equal and endowed with certain unalienable rights,” Wolfe said. “This bill seeks to make sure all people are truly treated equally by outlawing discrimination and by punishing those who engage in such behavior.”

The state bill has been passed in the Assembly nine times, most recently in March of this year. Eighteen other states, the District of Columbia, and 157 cities and counties across the country have already passed transgender-inclusive civil rights legislation, and GENDA would extend these protections across New York State.

Brooke Malloy, executive director of the Rockland County Pride Center, was among those attending the Legislature’s Tuesdaymeeting. The Pride Center is a Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender (LGBT) organization with an anti-racist, social justice mission.

“Passing this resolution is a clear indication of the Rockland County Legislature’s desire to embrace and support all residents,” Malloy said. “The Rockland County Pride Center is grateful for strong bipartisan government leaders who believe in equality and justice for all, with no exceptions.”

Currently, neither federal nor state statutes ban discrimination in areas of employment, housing or public accommodations based on gender identity or expression, and courts have generally not interpreted sexual orientation nondiscrimination laws to include transgender discrimination.

“Every day that goes by without this bill becoming law is another day that our neighbors who are part of the transgender community face discrimination – and perpetrators face no real consequences,” Wolfe said. “It is past time that we put laws in place to address this civil rights issue. I am proud to support this effort and call upon the state Senate to act immediately.”