Gender Expression Non-Discrimination Bill Lost in N.Y. Senate Committee

Despite vote counts that indicated it could pass the full New York state senate this month, the Gender Expression Non-Discrimination Act, which would protect against discrimination on the basis of gender identity and expression in areas like housing and employment, died Tuesday morning in the senate judiciary committee. The committee vote was 11-12, with all Republicans voting against the bill, joined by Democratic state senator Ruben Diaz, Sr. of the Bronx.

According to an e-mail announcement to supporters Tuesday from the Empire State Pride Agenda, the state’s leading LGBT lobbying group, “Today the Senate Judiciary Committee took up the Gender Expression Non-Discrimination Act (GENDA) and failed to move it forward by a vote of 11-12. All the Republican Senators on the Committee voted against it, as did Senator Ruben Diaz as the lone Democrat vote in dissent. Some senators raised concerns about the use of bathrooms and other gender-segregated facilities, and a number of senators who voted against the bill expressed a willingness to support it if this issue could be sufficiently addressed. Committee Chair John Sampson promised to take these concerns back to the prime sponsor of the bill, Senator Tom Duane, for discussion.”

The vote delivers a major disappointment to transgender advocates. As recently as last week, many believed they had enough votes — 32 — to pass the measure in the narrowly divided senate. GENDA already has passed the assembly, where Democrats hold firm control.

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