Tweet
This morning, Gov. Paterson signed “Executive Order No. 33 that will prohibit New York State agencies from discriminating against any individual on the basis of gender identity and expression in any matter pertaining to employment by the State.” The EO is so new that it isn’t yet posted to the Governor’s Exec Orders page. The entire press announcement is below the fold.
Blender Joann Prinzivalli was there and reports from Gov. Paterson’s press conference:
I’m just back from the press conference and proclamation-signing. Pragmatically, I am happy to take what I can get at the moment, and at the moment, that is the executive order banning anti-trans discrimination in state employment.Today, the Governor did expressly call for GENDA to be passed “in January, February, or March” of 2010. Clearly, he is signaling that he does not expect us to be waiting for the budget to get through first.
It is not as bad as you think, Emelye. I can’t blame ESPA for riding whichever bill happens to be in play. And since media attention was on marriage, the politicians responded to that.
GENDA was going to be on the Senate calendar the very week that the Senate imploded in June. I have been calling for the Governor to have included GENDA in the list of necessary bills for the special session.
I realize in retrospect, since the marriage bill actually got fewer votes than expected in the special session, that it is possible that all the votes we needed for GENDA might not have materialized in the special session because of intangible factors outside our control (for example, resentment against the governor by some members of the senate).
When the legislature goes into regular session, we’ll see what happens. But January, February, or March are our targets!
According to Empire State Pride Agenda, the votes for GENDA (S02406) should be there in the Senate to pass it. It has already passed in the Assembly. But as Joann said above and as we learned with the marriage bill, some legislators are fickle and we just won’t know until the roll call.
ESPA’s response to Gov. Paterson’s Executive Order is below the fold.
Update Dec 17th: Executive Order No. 33 has been posted here. A copy is pasted at the end of the post.From the Office of Governor Patterson:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
December 16, 2009GOVERNOR PATERSON SIGNS GENDER IDENTITY AND EXPRESSION EXECUTIVE ORDER
Executive Order Will Protect State Workers from Discrimination Based on Gender Identity
Governor David A. Paterson today signed Executive Order No. 33 that will prohibit New York State agencies from discriminating against any individual on the basis of gender identity and expression in any matter pertaining to employment by the State. Executive Order No. 33 directs the Office of Employee Relations, in consultation with the Executive Director of the Division of Human Rights, to develop and implement clear and consistent guidelines prohibiting gender identity and expression discrimination by all State agencies.
“For generations, New York has been a national leader on civil rights, yet the State has lagged far behind in securing basic civil rights for transgender New Yorkers. I am proud to sign this important measure to not only bring workforce protection to the transgender community under the law, but to bring greater equality and civil rights to the State of New York,” Governor Paterson said. “From now on, transgender New Yorkers will be protected from discrimination because of who they are.”
Currently, 13 states and over 90 municipalities and counties – including the City of New York – prohibit discrimination on the basis of gender identity and expression by statute, and numerous others have imposed such a ban through executive action or policy.
In addition, there is no evidence that any such statute or policy has undermined in any way the functioning of a workplace, and to the contrary anti-discrimination practices are important tools to attract and retain competent and effective employees.
As a longtime civil rights activist, Governor Paterson has supported the LGBT community throughout his public service career, in addition to his support of marriage equality. Shortly after taking office in 2008, the Governor issued a memorandum directing State agencies to afford recognition to same-sex couples legally married outside of New York to the full extent permitted by law. In 2007, he walked the floor of the New York State Assembly in support of the marriage equality bill.
###
The following statements were provided in support of Executive Order No. 33:
Senate Majority Conference Leader John L. Sampson said: “For too long, transgender New Yorkers have been denied the basic rights and legal protections others enjoy. Today, New York joins a proud chorus of states, cities and counties across the country who are standing up for the transgender community by prohibiting baseless and inexcusable discrimination. I applaud Governor Paterson for his leadership on this issue and commitment to the civil rights and equal rights movement.”
Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver said: “By signing an executive order today banning discrimination by state agencies based on gender identity, Governor Paterson has made it unmistakably clear that New York has zero tolerance for discrimination. He has joined with the Assembly Majority, which has consistently supported equal rights, equal benefits and privileges, and equal protection under the law for all New Yorkers including members of the LGBT community. We hope this important step will help transgender New Yorkers to live their lives openly and without fear.”
Senator Thomas K. Duane said: “Governor Paterson deserves great credit for once again demonstrating his commitment to the entire LGBT community. He has carried the cause of transgender rights very far on his own today by prohibiting discrimination on the basis of gender identity or expression for employees of New York State agencies. Now, we must redouble our efforts to pass The Gender Expression Non-Discrimination Act (GENDA), which would ban discrimination against transgender and gender non-conforming people across New York State in housing, employment, credit, public accommodations, and other areas of everyday life. I have been pushing for this measure since 2002 when then Senate Minority Leader-Paterson and I fought for its inclusion in The Sexual Orientation Non-Discrimination Act (SONDA) and we will not stop working until equal protection under the law is a reality for all New Yorkers.”
Assemblyman Richard N. Gottfried said: “Governor Paterson knows that working for the people means all the people, including transgender New Yorkers. His executive order will protect State government employees against discrimination in their workplace and help lead the way for enacting GENDA – the Gender Expression Non-Discrimination Act – which would extend New York’s anti-discrimination laws to protect transgender people.”
Assemblywoman Deborah Glick said: “I congratulate and thank Governor Paterson for signing this executive order to end discrimination on the basis of gender identity and expression. The modern gay rights movement began with the Stonewall Riots in 1969, and members of the transgender community played a key role in that rebellion. While we have gone on to see many anti-discrimination laws enacted, the transgender community continues to face more discrimination and the most severe hate violence. This is a significant signal that New York State will not tolerate bias.”
Assemblyman Micah Z. Kellner said: “Discrimination against the transgender community – and against people that may not identify as such, but don’t look the way people expect them to – is unacceptable, but all too common. In this difficult economy, workers have enough problems without having to worry that they could lose their job due to bigotry without legal recourse. I am proud to stand next to Governor Paterson today and be part of this important announcement that protects our state employees. Soon, I hope the Gender Expression Non-Discrimination Act (GENDA) will pass both houses of the legislature, so that all New Yorkers may enjoy these protections.”
Assemblyman Daniel O’Donnell said: “I applaud Governor Paterson for taking bold action to ensure that transgender individuals have additional protection against discrimination. No person should be denied employment or harassed on the job because of gender identity. This policy will benefit not only the transgender community, but all of New York State.”
Assemblyman Matthew Titone said: “Governor Paterson truly takes to heart that all people are created equal, and he has used the power of his office to ensure equal rights for all New Yorkers, including people of transgendered experience. We could all learn from the Governor’s example.”
New York City Council Speaker Christine C. Quinn said: “Today, Governor Paterson took an important step in extending crucial employment protections to Transgender New Yorkers. This important Executive Order will bring workforce protection to the transgender community at all state agencies. I applaud the Governor for rightfully recognizing that government must use all the tools at its disposal to ensure our citizens are protected with full civil rights, be it by statute, executive order or policy. In 2002, NYC passed the Transgender Civil Rights bill, which outlaws discrimination in NYC based on gender identity and expression in all public accommodations. We call on the NY State Senate to act now and pass the Gender Employment Non-Discrimination Act (GENDA), as a first step towards full civil rights protections for Transgender New Yorkers.”
Michael Silverman, Executive Director of TLDEF, said: “Like everyone else, transgender employees deserve to be judged on their ability to do the job, and not on who they are. This executive order will ensure that hard-working transgender employees of New York State can work without fear of discrimination, and provide for themselves and their families. We applaud Governor Paterson for taking this important step for transgender equal rights, and for recognizing that transgender New Yorkers should have the chance to earn a living and provide for their families without being refused a job or fired for reasons that have nothing to do with their ability to do the job.”
Alan Van Capelle, Executive Director of the Empire State Pride Agenda, said: “Now transgender New Yorkers who work for the State will no longer have to worry about on-the-job discrimination simply because of who they are. This is a big step forward for the basic civil rights of transgender New Yorkers and we are extremely grateful for Governor Paterson’s leadership on this issue.”
Melissa Sklarz, Director of the New York Trans Rights Organization (NYTRO), said: “Being transgender can be hard and the journey difficult. But stability can be achieved with a roof over one’s head and a job to maintain it. The transgender community of New York thanks Governor Paterson for his leadership in recognizing that all New Yorkers need a stable workplace to create stable lives. Perhaps the legislature can follow his lead and pass GENDA to provide all trans New Yorkers basic civil rights and a legal identity.”
Pauline Park, Chair of the New York Association for Gender Rights Advocacy (NYAGRA), said: “Governor Paterson has taken an important step in helping members of the transgender community secure full legal equality under state law in New York, and we applaud him for this historic executive action. In extending protections from discrimination based on gender identity or expression in State employment, the Governor creates momentum for enactment of the Gender Expression Non-Discrimination Act (GENDA). We in NYAGRA call on the State Senate to follow the Governor’s lead and take action on GENDA now.
Empire State Pride Agenda:
Thank the Gov. for Executive Order prohibiting discrimination against transgender State employeesToday, Governor David Paterson signed an Executive Order prohibiting discrimination based on gender identity and expression for state employees. Now all state employees are legally protected against workplace discrimination. The Pride Agenda has been working with the Governor’s Office on this important issue since Governor Spitzer was elected in 2006 and has continued to work on it with Governor Paterson, and we are proud that the Governor has taken this important step toward ensuring equal protection for all.
In a statement released just moments ago, Pride Agenda Executive Director Alan Van Capelle said, “This Executive Order sends a strong message that it is simply not acceptable to discriminate against someone because they fail to live up to another person’s expectations on whether they act masculine or feminine enough. Hiring and promoting decisions should be made based upon qualifications and performance and not on anything else. New York now begins to catch up to where many other states have been for quite a while.”
Seven other states currently have similar Executive Orders protecting public employees, and 12 states and the District of Columbia have comprehensive laws prohibiting discrimination based on gender identity and expression. New York’s Gender Expression Non-Discrimination Act (GENDA)-twice passed by the State Assembly and now before the State Senate-would amend the state’s human rights law to prohibit discrimination based upon gender identity and expression in employment (both public and private sectors), housing, public accommodations and credit. It also expands the state’s hate crimes law to explicitly include crimes against transgender people.
As we continue our work to make New York’s protections for transgender people even more inclusive by passing GENDA in the New Year, it’s crucial that we thank Governor Paterson now for this important Executive Order and for his relentless support of the LGBT community. Please take this opportunity to send the message below to the Governor. Feel free to edit the email with your own words of thanks.
EXECUTIVE ORDERNO 33: Prohibiting Discrimination In State Employment On The Basis Of Gender Identity
WHEREAS, the State of New York has a substantial interest in putting in place a workforce hired based on employees’ ability to perform the tasks necessary for effective job performance; andWHEREAS, invidious discrimination is at odds with that goal, and has no place in the hiring or other employment decisions of the State of New York; and
WHEREAS, there are compelling arguments that discrimination on the basis of gender identity is illegal under existing anti-discrimination statutes, and any such discrimination will expose the State to legal liability; and
WHEREAS, thirteen states and over ninety municipalities and counties – including the City of New York – prohibit discrimination on the basis of gender identity by statute, and numerous others have imposed such a ban through executive action or policy; and
WHEREAS, many large and successful companies also have such policies; and
WHEREAS, there is no evidence that any such statute or policy has undermined in any way the functioning of a workplace, and to the contrary anti-discrimination practices are important tools to attract and retain competent and effective employees; and
WHEREAS, it is imperative that the State of New York take all possible measures to end discrimination on the basis of gender identity;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, David A. Paterson, Governor of the State of New York, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the State of New York, do hereby order as follows:
1. For purposes of this order, “gender identity” shall mean having or being perceived as having a gender identity, self-image, appearance, behavior or expression whether or not that gender identity, self-image, appearance, behavior or expression is different from that traditionally associated with the sex assigned to that person at birth. For purposes of this Order, “State agency” shall mean any department, agency, division, commission, bureau or other entity of the State over which the Governor has executive power.
2. No State agency shall discriminate on the basis of gender identity against any individual in any matter pertaining to employment by the State including, but not limited to, hiring, termination, retention, job appointment, promotion, tenure, recruitment and compensation.
3. All managers, supervisors and employees in all State agencies shall make diligent, good faith efforts to ensure that all employees are afforded equal opportunity, without regard to their gender identity.
4. The Office of Employee Relations, in consultation with the Executive Director of the Division of Human Rights, is hereby directed to promulgate clear and consistent guidelines prohibiting discrimination based on gender identity to maintain an environment where only job-related criteria are used to assess employees or prospective employees of the State. The Office of Employee Relations shall also implement a procedure to ensure the swift and thorough investigation of complaints of discrimination based on gender identity. Particular effort should be made to conduct investigations with due regard for confidentiality. The terms of this order shall take effect immediately, and shall be in effect irrespective of the issuance of any guidelines or procedures.G I V E N under my hand and the Privy Seal of the State in the City of New York this sixteenth day of December in the year two thousand nine.
David A. Paterson
Governor
7 Comments
Wonder why Paterson gets so much criticismHe’s a wonderful governor–compassionate, calm and reasonable. He’s also been a champion of the gay community from the start.
Me too, but mine is CA perspective…so I get to follow the antics…of the likes of Gov Terminator, and AG Moonbeam. Also have two very sensible female Senators,… even if I do a have “WORST Person in the World for Rep..Hope to get even hubby so mad at him he will get active in DUMP WALLY campaign!But RICH RICH farmers own Wally here.
Good for Paterson. Or rather, MORE good.I don’t follow NY state politics well enough to understand why so much of the public dislikes him. But he’d sure as hell have my vote, at least.
Table scraps.This order isn’t really significant, as a single stroke of a pen can remove it just as easily, and it does nothing for far more than it protects. The only people who benefit are employees of state agencies, and even then it’s fragile at best, subject to easy removal the moment it becomes somehow inconvenient. All it really does it generate good PR with minimal real cost.
I’ll believe there’s actual effort into this when GENDA passes.
So we should leave as many people vulnerable for as long as possible?That makes no sense at all. If some people can be protected now and the legislation is given another round of consideration because of it, I think the EO is great. Just like I think the EO ordering the state to recognize same-sex marriages conducted outside NY is great. It gives some people interim protection, keeps the conversation alive and helps normalize the proposition that all New Yorkers should expect equal treatment under the law. You call that scraps, I call that progress and a governor who appears to be making an effort. Would you prefer his piss in your martini?
What it does, is encourage more of a climate changeThis executive order has been in the works for quite some time. It is one of several things that came up at a meeting with the governor’s staff with Gov. Paterson’s predecessor, that took place at the same time that an announcment was being made about driver’s licenses for undocumented aliens.
Another thing that came from that meeting, was a meeting with the State Commissioner of Health, to discuss things that included trying to reverse a Pataki-era medicaid regulation that prohibits transition-related services for indigent trans people. That meeting came the day that former Governor Spitzer resigned. At that meeting, however, we did not fare well – a study has to be done first, and unfortunately with the budget in crisis, that whole issue is stalled.
The current head count for GENDA in the State Senate is 34 – enough to pass. Perhaps all 34 would not have voted for the bill in special session because they resented being in special session.
The executive order works as animpetus toward GENDA’s passage. We all know it’s not the end – even the Governor only called this a first act – and the grand finale is yet to come.
We have to be pushing for quick committee actions in both the assembly and the senate, followed by votes. Jaanuary, february March. Action is needed to move the bill early in 2010. GENDA is revenue neutral, so the budget crisis should not affect it.
He is a good governor, but . . .. . . he has the unhappy luck to have been thrust into the job without much notice, to have the worst economy in decades, and a state legislature that is even more dysfunctional than usual.
He has also had to deal with a hostile media that pounces on everything he does.
When it comes to civil rights issues, Governor Paterson is perhaps the best governor the state has ever had. He really does “get it” when it comes to our issues, particularly trans issues.
I do believe in putting politicians’ feet in the fire when they don’t do the right thing, and I have been putting Paterson’s feet in the fire over not putting GENDA on the recent special session agenda. I do think he should have put Dignity for All Students Act (DASA), GENDA and marriage on the agenda, to be considered in that order. DASA and GENDA could have given marriage some momentum.
In retrospect, after the marriage vote fell further short than even the best private counts, it may be that Paterson, who has had long experience in the state senate himself, including a stint as minority leader, did not do the wrong thing after all by leaving DASA and GENDA to wait until the 2010 regular session.
Senators want to be in control of their own agenda, and some resented the Governor treating them like unruly children (even though that is how they were acting in June).
One thing I have learned about the way the State Senate works – they do most of their work off the floor, and tend to not do anything in session until they know how things will turn out. Instead of open debate on the floor of the chamber, everything is usually sorted out before they bang in the gavel and have a session where something is done.
The marriage vote was supposed to pass. Senator Duane had the votes lined up, including about five Republicans. But three Democrats who had told Senator Duane (and Marriage Equality New York, and ESPA) that they were yes votes, turned out to be no votes, the whole package fell apart – and the five Republicans vanished because their votes were only expected if the Democrats came through with the correct numbers of votes. They were not going to go on the record with a yes vote on a lost bill. Perhaps this is a sign that more should be done on the floor and less behind closed doors. I would prefer real government to one where the votes only come on bills that are pre-arranged to pass. This may be the first time in decades that the state senate actually took a vote and the bill did not pass.
In any event, GENDA has 34 votes – would all of them have been there for us in the special session? I think Governor Paterson’s strategy for GENDA has been played very close to the vest. Doing the executive order in late December, together with his speech (particularly the references to the theatre – we have yet to see the “grand finale”) must have been calculated to give GENDA a shot in the arm to carry it into the regular session as a priority.
When the Governor said “January, February or March” he signaled that GENDA is going to be a priority that comes ahead of the 2010-11 budget that is due in April. I am sure that gives Senator Duane the additional muscle he needs with the leadership so that Senator Duane can get the leadership to move the bill on its own early in the 2010 regular session (rather than being ‘pushed around’ in the 2009 special session).
Well, so much for reading the tea leaves – I think things will go well in 2010 – but we have to do our job to push the committees to act as soon as the legislature goes into session, and then to get leadership in both Assembly and Senate to bring the bills to a vote.
I still believe that it should be DASA, GENDA, Marriage, taken up in that order, and perhaps on the same day. The only concern with DASA is the idea that some senators have that could derail it is the cost of tolerance training for teachers, administrators and staff. (A concern that is misplaced, since all school budgets have built-in “in-service days” for training purposes, and there are things that can be trimmed from the annual refreshers for teaching safety for schoolchildren as a priority).
Having had the marriage vote taken in special session, and the belief that DASA may have budget implications, may mean that GENDA has the first priority among the three bills, while DASA could get folded into the annual budget bill, and Marriage will get another chance at a vote after the budget.
Actually, marriage could get folded into the budget bill – it could be tacked onto a provision raising the cost of marriage licenses to $100-$150, and the state could also look forward to budget-enhancing additional tax revenues from increased sales for caterers, florists, and other wedding-related businesses. This would be a boost for the economy in places like New York City and Niagara Falla, and other wedding destinations. I think Marriage Equality advocates must start pushing the economic benefit button – I don’t think NOM has an answer for that one yet.
My last note is that Governor Paterson’s approval rating is on an upswing – his numbers are up to the 30′s – and I think that they will get higher as time goes on.