Press Releases
AIDS and LGBT Advocates Take GENDA Fight to the Airwaves with ‘Transgender’ Song
What do LGBT and AIDS activists do when we suffer a human rights setback? Why, sing, of course!
The song Aren’t You Glad You Aren’t Transgender? will be played as an advertisement on Fred Dicker Live from the State Capitol from Monday, June 14 to Friday, June 18, between 10 AM and 11 AM, as well as on Monday, June 21, the final day of the Senate session, in support of the Gender Expression Nondiscrimination Act, recently voted down in a Senate committee.
Listen to Aren’t You Glad You Aren’t Transgender?
Here is an excerpt from the merrily sarcastic lyrics:
In New York State, if you don’t conform
You can be kicked out of your home
Denied a loan from a decent lender
Aren’t you glad you’re not transgender?
Did you know it’s legal, perfectly legal
To discriminate in New York State?
Fired from work for how you appear
Aren’t you glad you’re not a bit queer?
So tell the Senate it’s time to act
Pass the act called GENDA
The Gender Expression Nondiscrimination Act!
The Gender Expression Nondiscrimination Act, or GENDA, would add the category of “gender identity and expression” to existing New York State human rights laws that protect residents against discrimination in the areas of employment, housing, public accommodations, education and credit.
The Assembly passed GENDA, but last week, the Senate Judiciary committee voted against sending GENDA to the Senate floor for a full Senate vote.
AIDS and LGBT activists will be engaging in a variety of artistic protests demanding that the full Senate take up the human rights legislation this week.
Another advertisement that expresses the more serious side of GENDA will also run on the Fred Dicker show, on the same dates as Aren’t You Glad You’re Not Transgender? Created by the advocacy organization Queer RIsing, the advertisement emphasizes the importance of opportunities for non-gender conforming New Yorkers in employment, housing, education and credit.
