Albany Rundown: The LGBTQ Community Left Out of the Watershed Progressive Swing
The 2019 Legislative Session ended yesterday - with mixed results for our community. Though the passage of key progressive reforms (listed below) dominate the headlines, critical issues for our community remain on the table.
Fortunately, passage of the many long overdue progressive reforms below, as compiled by NoIDCNY, should clear some space for our community.
Though we started 2019 on a high note, with immediate passage of GENDA and a ban on Conversion Therapy, we end the session knowing that we have to fight harder next year to protect and improve the lives of the most disadvantaged in our community.
The Win
Gay/Trans Panic Defense Partially Repealed
We’re excited that the “Gay/Trans Panic Defense” was repealed in cases of 2nd Degree murder. This is good, but not good enough. Next year, this legislation must be expanded to include cases of assault.
The continued fight
Gestational Surrogacy
New York State will remain one of only three states that forces its residents to leave the state in order to contract with a carrier willing to help them conceive a child. This continued ban is inequitable, with Assembly Member Deborah Glick, the first out legislator in Albany, helping to block it. Read more here: (https://lidbk.com/news/gay-city-news-deborah-glick-key-hurdle-on-gestational-surrogacy).
Criminal Justice Reform
Overpolicing continues to hurt our community. Transgender people of color are incarcerated at 3 times the national average, and nothing was done to ensure that police cannot say that they were “looking for adam’s apples” in order to single out women to arrest for prostitution.
We are grateful to the Brooklyn legislative delegation in Albany, in particular State Senator Julia Salazar, for being a strong advocate for passage of the following important reform efforts. We will continue to have their backs:
#WalkingWhileTrans
Police will still be able to target transgender people using a “loitering for the purposes of prostitution” as a weapon. Read letters by a coalition of community organizations including LID here .
Decriminalization of Sex Work: LID and other LGBTQ clubs have strongly urged the full decriminalization of sex work, as it’s prosecution has a hurtful impact on our community, particularly among transgender people of color.
Join us as we work together to pass these reforms next year. Become a 2019 LID member here.