The Gender Expression Non-Discrimination Act (or GENDA) is a transgender rights bill that, if passed, would prohibit discrimination based on gender identity and expression in employment, housing, public accommodations, and other areas in New York State.
GENDA passed the State Assembly in 2008, but failed to secure enough votes in the then Republican-controlled Senate. New York State’s non-discrimination law was amended that same year to include sexual orientation, but failed to address the concerns of transgender residents and employees.
GENDA passed the State Assembly in 2008, but failed to secure enough votes in the then Republican-controlled Senate. New York State’s non-discrimination law was amended that same year to include sexual orientation, but failed to address the concerns of transgender residents and employees.
The bill was introduced again, successfully clearing the Democratic-controlled Assembly by a wide margin on April 22, 2009. LGBT rights activists are hopeful that the bill will pass the Senate this time around. "We’re cautiously optimistic," said Melissa Sklarz a longtime transgender and Democratic activist affiliated with the New York Transgender Rights Organization (NYTRO), as reported on AKAWilliam.
The Transgender Law and Policy Institute, a policy and advocacy organization for transgender people, states that if the bill were to pass, New York would join three other states—Minnesota, New Mexico, and Rhode Island—with laws in place banning bias against transgender residents and workers.
