GENDA Memorandum in Support

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contacts:
Krishna Stone | 212.367.1016

New York, NY — Gay Men’s Health Crisis (GMHC) supports A.4226 (Gottfried)/S.195 (Squadron), “The Gender Expression Non-Discrimination Act” (GENDA). This legislation adds “gender identity or expression” to New York State’s existing nondiscrimination and hate crimes laws.

Since the start of the HIV epidemic over 30 years ago, GMHC has helped clients who have experienced discrimination based on their sexual orientation and gender identity or expression. This discrimination drives the epidemic by hindering efforts to provide comprehensive HIV/AIDS education, contributing to the stigma that surrounds HIV/AIDS, and discouraging people from seeking voluntary testing, care, and counseling.

Transgender people are more likely to face discrimination in housing, employment, public accommodations, and many other areas of life. This discrimination can have an especially dangerous effect on transgender New Yorkers who are living with HIV and need educational and vocational opportunities to support their overall well-being. According to the National Transgender Discrimination Survey, 20% of transgender respondents in New York State lost a job or were denied a home or apartment because of their gender identity or expression.¹

"New York State has fallen behind on its commitment to fair and equitable treatment. Sixteen states and the District of Columbia, as well as over 125 cities in the US, have already passed transgender-inclusive nondiscrimination legislation. These cities in New York State include Albany, Syracuse, Binghamton, Buffalo, Ithaca, New York and Rochester, as well as Suffolk and Tompkins Counties.

GMHC urges passage of this important legislation. Prohibiting discrimination based on gender identity or expression is vital to many of our clients in every aspect of their lives.

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¹ National Center for Transgender Equality & the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force. (n.d.). Findings of the national transgender discrimination survey: New York results. Available from the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Policy Institute.

For more information: Lyndel Urbano, Manager of Government Relations, lyndelu@gmhc.org