Issue Position: LGBTQ
Issue Position
Uplifting LGBTQ New Yorkers
In 2011, my bill, the Marriage Equality Act, became law, making New York State the largest in the nation at the time to allow same-sex marriages. This historic moment was a turning point for the State and the Nation, setting the stage for us to address a range of other critical issues facing the LGBTQ community, from addressing concerns about safety and intolerance to creating protections for the transgender community. In 2012, I finally married my husband, John, in a ceremony surrounded by friends, family, and my colleagues in government who voted to make our union legal.
Despite the dramatic progress we've made, I have never forgotten how far we still have to go until the world is safe and welcoming for all LGBTQ people. Building off the success of Marriage Equality, I have continued to push for progress and am committed to fighting until every person has the rights and opportunities they deserve.
DIGNITY FOR ALL STUDENTS
In 2012, I passed New York State's anti-bullying law, the Dignity for All Students Act, to protect our children. In addition to setting a national model for how to support schools and educators in combating the scourge of bulling, the law was the first time that transgender people were explicitly included in a law in New York State, laying the groundwork for progress to come.
ENDING "GAY-TRANS PANIC' DEFENSE
For years, finding out that someone else was gay or transgender was a legal defense for certain crimes. In 2019, we finally changed the law, to make it clear that someone's identity or sexual orientation can never be used as an excuse to commit violence against them.
LGBTQ people, and especially transgender, nonbinary, and gender nonconforming people, continue to be targeted for violence and hate. I am committed to making sure every person is safe, has rights and respect, and is able to achieve their potential without hurdles from the law or society.
PROTECTIONS FOR THE TRANSGENDER COMMUNITY
Our work to support and protect the transgender community is still not done. I am fighting to ensure that trans New Yorkers have the rights to use public facilities that match their gender identity, receive health care, have job opportunities, and have the dignity and respect that every person deserves.
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