Monday, June 20, 2011

What About GENDA?

For the last three years in the New York state legislature GENDA, the Gender Expression Non-Discrimination Act. has been stuck in an infuriating pattern for trans New Yorkers. 

It passes by overwhelming margins in the New York Assembly, but dies in the New York Senate.

GENDA if passed would amend the state non-discrimination laws to add gender identity and expression to the list of characteristics protected from discrimination in employment, education, public accommodations, housing and credit. It would also add gender identity and expression to the state hate crimes law.


Last year it died in committee by one vote with 11 Republicans and TBLG hater Sen Ruben Diaz, Sr crossing party lines to vote with the GOP to kill it..

But like Charlie Brown, the New York trans community as they have since 2003, keeps getting up and trying to successfully kick that civil rights football through the goalposts while hoping Lucy doesn't yank the football away once again.

For the fourth straight year GENDA (AB 5039/S 2873) passed the NY Assembly on a lopsided 78-53 vote.  However the obstacles to finally getting this bill passed and on Governor Andrew Cuomo's desk is the NY Senate and clock ticking on the 2011 session which ends later today at midnight.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) has said he would sign the legislation if it passes..

Once again the 'all marriage all the time' GL movement has the noise machine cranked up for same sex marriage passage, but not a amplified peep out of the noise machine for GENDA, which will benefit far more people than the ability for a few to get married.

As I've said repeatedly, it does you no good to be able to marry someone if you can't hold a job to pay for the wedding ring, the wedding and the wedding reception and the haters can keep you from renting the reception hall.

The clock is ticking on GENDA for this legislative session  and it's looking like once again, the NY senate Lucy will succeed in taking away the civil rights football just as we're about to kick it.

But we have until midnight to see if that happens..


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