May 30, 2008
FINALLY ON THE A-GENDA
coming right up!
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Gottfried and Assembly colleagues to pass GENDA any day now |
On Wednesday the Assembly Democratic conference discussed the Gender Expression Non-discrimination Act (GENDA), and meeting participants emerged all but certain that after five long years of being shafted, GENDA will pass in the Assembly this year, perhaps as early as next week. GENDA will ensure that all New Yorkers, including transgender people, are protected from discrimination based on gender identity and expression in housing, employment, credit and public accommodations.
"The bill will be coming to the floor for a vote and I fully expect it to pass," said assemblyman Dick Gottfried, the bill's chief sponsor. "Am I certain? Well, Vermont could invade New York and we could be in turmoil, but other than that it looks good."
Gottfried said the Democratic conference, which often takes hours, only took about 10 minutes for the GENDA discussion, with only brief technical questions and the voicing of support. "Speaker Silver and many of my colleagues have had a growing understanding of how deeply important this bill is to so many people," he said.
Gottfried said much of the success is due to the work of advocates telling their legislators about GENDA. There were lobby visits at Empire State Pride Agenda (ESPA)'s lobby day, and on Tuesday ESPA, Housing Works and other advocacy groups issued an action alert asking people to call.
This is the closest GENDA has ever come to Assembly passage. "GENDA's breaking history every week," said Dennis Weakley, Housing Works' New York state organizer, noting that prior to this year GENDA had never even made it to the Codes committee.
But it's not time for a victory dance quite yet. While all is well in the Assembly, in the Senate there's a gloomier picture. Majority leader Joseph Bruno has long blocked the vote, and advocates aren't even trying to push GENDA during this session.
But Gottfried said he is optimistic that even if Democrats don't get control of the Senate this year, GENDA will pass soon, unlike the gap between the Assembly passage of the Sexual Orientation Non-Discrimination Act and the Senate's 10 years later. "It's only a matter of a couple years at most for this to pass one way or another. New Yorkers are more informed and enlightened about these issues now," he said.
Assemblywoman Deborah Glick said that in the long-term it will appear obvious that passing GENDA is the right decision. "In 10 years people will look back and wonder what all the fuss was about."