Issue Position: LGBTQ+ Rights

Issue Position

Over 30 years ago, I was proud to be the Suffolk County Legislature's deciding vote on to prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and have continued to fight for equality for all ever since. It was the first of its kind in New York State, and one of the first in the nation; though it was still a controversial subject back in the 1980s, it remains one of my proudest votes I've ever taken.

But we still have work to do in the fight for true equality.

New York needs to pass GENDA,an act that would add gender identity and expression as protected classes under New York's existing human rights laws, protecting individuals from discrimination in employment, housing, public accommodations, education and securing credit. Its shameful that New York does not currently have laws that explicitly prohibit such discrimination, for no one should be discriminated against because of who they are.

Conversion Therapy Ban -- Sexual orientation and gender identity are not a choice or mental illness. Currently, there is no statewide ban that would prevent healthcare providers from trying to change the sexual orientation and/or gender identity of minors. While such a bill has been passed in the State Assembly, it has been blocked in the New York State Senate.

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