GENDA: Providing Critical Civil Rights Protections

What is GENDA?

The Gender Expression Non-Discrimination Act, often simply called GENDA, is a bill pending in the New York State legislature that would strengthen New York State’s Human Rights Law by banning discrimination based upon gender identity and expression throughout New York State.  Currently, the Human Rights Law makes it illegal to discriminate in the areas of employment, housing, public accommodations, education and credit because of some or all of the following:  an individual’s age, race, creed, color, national origin, sexual orientation, military status, sex, disability, predisposing genetic characteristics or marital status.  But the law provides little protection from discrimination on the basis of gender identity or expression, leaving many New Yorkers without legal protection from discrimination.

Why is GENDA Important?

Many New Yorkers experience discrimination because of their gender identity or expression:  women who are told they are too aggressive for a promotion; gay men and lesbians who become targets of discrimination because of non-traditional gender expression; and transgender New Yorkers living in a gender other than their birth gender.  These groups and others can become targets of harassment, discrimination, and even violence.  By passing GENDA, the state legislature would offer New Yorkers who experience discrimination because of their gender identity or expression the same protections that other New Yorkers already have. 

What Can You Do to Help Make GENDA the Law in New York State?

  • Join our mailing list to be kept up-to-date on our work, including GENDA. 
  • Help spread the word about GENDA.  You can start by sharing this page with a friend (just cut and paste the URL above into an email message to your friends and colleagues).
  • Check back often for updates on our work and that of our partners relating to GENDA.