Cuomo Enacts New Protections For Transgender New Yorkers

According to a release from the Pride Agenda, Cuomo will announce regulations prohibiting harassment and discrimination in the areas of public and private housing, employment, credit, education, and public accommodations.

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New York passed the Sexual Orientation Non-Discrimination Act – which barred discrimination against gays, lesbians, and bisexuals – in 1990.

“We are thrilled. This sends a message to the country that you can extend protections by any means necessary and there are many ways to get a solution in the fight for equal protection under the law”, Schaefer said.

“This critically important step by Governor Cuomo is not only consistent with case law, but is the moral choice to protect thousands of transgender New Yorkers and visitors”, HRC President Chad Griffin said in a statement. The official added that Coumo and his staff are not aware of any other state where a governor has used executive authority to grant similar protections.

I am directing the State Division of Human Rights to immediately issue regulations defining New York State’s anti-discrimination law to prohibit discrimination against trans individuals in the state of New York.

Cuomo has championed gay right since taking office in 2011 – when he got a reluctant Senate to legalize same-sex marriage, making New York the largest state in the nation at the time to do so.

For a long while, Albany has been playing the ping-pong game with legislative measures meant to enforce anti-discrimination regulations for transgender people.

“The law left out the T so to speak”. Transgender individuals will now be able to file discrimination claims with the state attorney general or courts, if they wish to exact damages or punitive relief. Civil fines and penalties can be up to $50,000 or as high as $100,000 if the discrimination is deemed to be “willful, wanton or malicious”. For a period of 45 days they are subject to comment and consultation, after which they take effect. The legislation is aimed at providing the same protections that Cuomo will announce.