Housing Works supports GENDA!
Fighting transgender discrimination in New York
Housing Works plays a major role in advocating for the rights of transgender New Yorkers, who are disproportionately affected by HIV/AIDS.
GENDA would prevent discrimination against transgender people and discrimination on the basis of gender identity, passed in the Assembly last June by an overwhelming and bipartisan margin of 108-34, and again this April. Now with the Dems in control of the Senate, there’s a better-than-even chance that this overdue bill, sponsored by Sen. Tom Duane, could finally become law in New York State.
How you can help
History of GENDA
Housing Works plays a major role in advocating for the rights of transgender New Yorkers, who are disproportionately affected by HIV/AIDS. Here’s how we helped get the Gender Expression Non-Discrimination Act (GENDA) passed this year in the New York State Assembly.
December 17, 2002
The State Senate rejects an amendment to the Sexual Orientation Non-Discrimination Act (SONDA) to include housing, healthcare, employment and other antidiscrimination protections for transgender New Yorkers. In the Senate gallery, Housing Works President and CEO Charles King inspires dejected transgender advocates. “Don’t worry,” he says. “We’ll have our own bill. We’ll call it GENDA.”
April, 2003
The Gender Identity Non-Discrimination Act (GENDA)—which Housing Works codrafted—is introduced by Assemblyman Dick Gottfried and others into the Assembly. Housing Works State Issues Organizer Mark Hayes spearheads a new GENDA lobbying coalition. His work pays dividends: GENDA clears two Assembly committees—but fails to make it to the Assembly floor.
January 2005
The GENDA coalition turns over leadership of Albany lobbying to one of its members, the Empire State Pride Agenda (ESPA). The state’s foremost LGBT civil rights lobbying group, ESPA potentially brings major muscle to the fledgling effort.
January 1, 2006
Democrat Eliot Spitzer, who endorsed GENDA as a gubernatorial candidate, is inaugurated.
June 20, 2006
At the annual Transgender Day of Action Pride march, King laments publicly that he is the only leader of a high-profile AIDS organization to participate and urges action on GENDA, which is adrift in Albany. Despite, ESPA leadership, GENDA has once again failed to reach a vote in the Assembly.
April 3, 2007
The New York AIDS community loses one of its finest when Hayes dies of esophageal cancer.
June 2007
Despite 69 Assembly cosponsors for GENDA, the legislative session ends for the fifth year in a row with no vote on GENDA. The GENDA coalition publicly criticizes ESPA’s efforts and demands that ESPA hire a GENDA coordinator, commission polling on transgender rights and make GENDA a priority. ESPA eventually meets all of those demands.
November 7, 2007
Transgender protections are sacrificed in order to get ENDA, federal legislation protecting lesbian and gay Americans from workplace discrimination, passed in the House. The echoes of SONDA 2002 anger and inspire GENDA coalition members.
Illo: http://gaycitynews.com/site/index.cfm?newsid=18504462&BRD=2729&PAG=461&dept_id=568864&rfi=8 would need to request from GCN; we don’t have because we’re not in it.
March 17, 2008
David Paterson replaces Spitzer as New York’s Governor. Pro-GENDA, Paterson supported amending SONDA to include transgender protections.
Illo: Paterson
May 2008
After renewed efforts by ESPA and the GENDA coalition, GENDA’s prospects look promising. Along with other groups, Housing Works sends scores of activists, most of them transgender, to lobby legislators. Housing Works weekly AIDS Issues Update repeatedly urges readers to pressure the Assembly to pass GENDA.
June 6, 2008
GENDA passes the Assembly by a vote of 108 to 34. “I was ecstatic,” recalls transgender Housing Works client Djia Xi, who lobbied in Albany. “But the battle isn’t over.” This fall Housing Works and allies will fight to get GENDA passed in the Senate—and signed into law by Paterson.
April 21, 2009
GENDA passes again in the Assembly in a vote of 97 to 38. On to the Senate…
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Contact
Send thoughts and story tips to j.turkewitz@housingworks.org
