On October 24th, State Senator Daniel Squadron and Assembly Member Richard Gottfried -- the sponsors of the Gender Expression Non-Discrimination Act (GENDA) -- hosted a public forum on pending legislation that would prohibit discrimination based on gender identity and break down barriers to equality.
Video of the entire forum is available below and at this link [3]. Video of law enforcement's testimony is available here [4].
The forum brought together transgender New Yorkers and their families, law enforcement, advocates, and public officials from around the state to testify on the obstacles to equality faced by many transgender individuals, and the potential impact of the Squadron-Gottfried legislation.
It is legal in New York for a person to lose their job or be evicted from their home because of their gender identity (except where local anti-discrimination laws have been enacted). GENDA (S.6349/Squadron - A.5039/Gottfried) would prohibit discrimination against transgender New Yorkers when it comes to housing, employment, credit, and public accommodations, while expanding New York’s hate crime laws to include crimes against transgender individuals.
GENDA has passed the Assembly five times, but has remained stalled in the Republican-controlled Senate.
The following is a collection of testimony and resources provided by the forum's participating individuals and organizations.
VIDEO: GENDA Public Forum [5] from Daniel Squadron [6] on Vimeo [7].
Personal Testimony:
Senator Tom Duane [8]
Melissa Sklarz [9] [9]
Rex Butt [10]
Empire State Pride Agenda:
Testimony: GENDA Forum, October 24, 2012 [11]
GENDA Q&A [13]
NY Labor Support for GENDA [14] [13]
NY Women's Organizations Support for GENDA [15] [13]
NY Pulpit Support for GENDA [16]
Housing Works:
National Gay and Lesbian Task Force:
Testimony: GENDA Forum, October 24, 2012 [18]
Injustice at Every Turn: A Report on the National Transgender Discrimination Survey [19]
Findings of the National Transgender Discrimination Survey: New York Results [20]
Transgender Issues [21] [20]
New York Association for Gender Rights Advocacy (NYAGRA):
Testimony: GENDA Forum, October 24, 2012 [22]
Transgender Health Care Provider Directory [23]
New York Civil Liberties Union (NYCLU):
Testimony: GENDA Forum, October 24, 2012 [24]
Report: Advancing Transgender Civil Rights in New York: The Need for GENDA (2012) [25] [25]
Fact Sheet: Why GENDA Matters [26] [25]
Transgender Legal Defense and Education Fund:
New York State Coalition Against Sexual Assault (NYSCASA):
Statement on GENDA [28] [25]
Legal Services NYC:
Testimony: GENDA Forum, October 24, 2012 [29]
[30]Legal Support Unit [31]
Interfaith Impact of New York State:
Testimony: GENDA Forum, October 24, 2012 [32]
