Former Jamestown City Council President, current SUNY JCC Poli Sci professor, and long time gay and lesbian rights advocate Gregory Rabb

JAMESTOWN – Human rights groups and equality advocates from across New York are celebrating the historic passage of the Gender Expression Non-Discrimination Act (GENDA) by the state legislature, as well as legislation protecting LGBTQ youth in the state from the practice of so-called “conversion therapy.”

GENDA would solidify existing law by explicitly adding gender identity and expression to the New York Human Rights Law. The bill has passed the New York Assembly eleven times, and Tuesday marked the first time it has passed in the State Senate. It now heads to Governor Andrew Cuomo’s desk to be signed.

Long-time LGBTQ Advocate and Jamestown Resident Greg Rabb said the GENDA legislation was long overdue.

“As an openly gay man I know what it’s like to be discriminated against,” Rabb told WRFA on Wednesday. “I also know how hard we worked to pass SONDA – the Sexual Orientation Non Discrimination Act – quite some time ago, which made it illegal to discriminate against gay and lesbian people. But when we got that done, sadly transgender individuals were left behind with the promise that we would come and get you. We were working at that promise for so long, I know SONDA was signed into law by Gov. Pataki so we’re going way back.”

Rabb added that with the passage of GENDA, individuals who are trans or gender nonconforming can feel more accepted by society, which is crucial for the mental health and well being.

“Those of use in the movement argue that transgender rights are human rights and if transgender folks can’t live their life as how they’re meant to be, then how can they get on with the rest of their life?” Rabb asks, adding, “If you look at the statistics last year there was a record number of murders in the U.S. against transgender individuals and a record number of violent acts. In addition to that the suicide rate is horrific. The number of trans individuals who attempt suicide and sadly succeed is significantly higher than any other group in the country. So I argue we are saving people’s lives. How can you be against that?”

Not every one was in favor of the GENDA legislation. In fact, both of Chautauqua County’s representatives in Alabny – Senator Cathy Young and Assemblyman Andy Goodell – voted against the measure, despite efforts by Rabb and others to convince them it was something they should support.

“I always like to paraphrase Dr. [Martin Luther] King, especially when we’re approaching his birthday and celebration of it. He said that, ‘If one of us has no rights, then none of us have our rights.’ So I think this is not only a victory for trans individuals but it’s a victory for anyone who believes people should be treated the same, regardless of who they are,” Rabb said.

In addition to GENDA, the legislature also banned so-called conversion Therapy. Rabb said that is something else he was pleased to see on Tuesday.

“If it wasn’t so tragic it would be the silliest scientific concept present. It would be like converting you from white to black or male to female. There’s no such thing. You can’t do it,” Rabb said. “Some of this stuff was just counseling but sometimes it was worse, you know, physical abuse. A good friend of mine who’s closer to my age, when she came out to her parents a long time ago that she was a lesbian, they subjected her to conversion therapy and basically she was sent to an institution and received electric shock treatment.  She’s still a lesbian today and she’s still scarred from that situation.”

While both the GENDA and conversion therapy ban are considered big wins by Rabb and other LGBTQ and Human Rights Groups, Rabb said the fight for equality under the law isn’t over, especially considering these are only state laws and not enforceable across the border in Pennsylvania, and many other states as well.

Rabb is a professor at Jamestown Community COllege and the former president of the Jamestown City Council.

The State Capitol, Albany NY.

ALBANY – While the governor received a lot of attention Tuesday for his state of the state and budget address, the state legislature was also busy making news.

Both the State Senate and Assembly passed a pair of bills that are considered wins for the LGBTQ community.

The legislature – which is now fully controlled by the Democrats – approved a bill that protects LGBTQ youth from the practice of conversion therapy.

Also referred to as “ex-gay therapy” or “sexual orientation change efforts,” conversion therapy attempts to change an individual’s sexual orientation or gender identity. The practice has been discredited by the American Psychological Association—and every other major professional health and mental organization. LGBTQ advocates have also called the practice ineffective and dangerous, saying it can lead to depression, anxiety, substance abuse, and even suicide.

Once the bill is signed into law, New York will be the 15th state to protect LGBTQ youth from conversion therapy.

The Democratic controlled legislature also approved a bill Tuesday that bolsters transgender rights and ensures gender identity and gender expression are protected classes in hate crimes and human rights laws.

The state Assembly and Senate passed the Gender Expression Non-Discrimination Act (GENDA) with largely Democratic support.
The purpose of the bill is to prevent employers and housing providers from discriminating against New Yorkers based on their gender identity and gender expression.

GENDA was first introduced in 2003. It has been passed several times by the Democratic-led state Assembly, but it didn’t receive a vote in the Senate. Until this year, Republicans controlled the Senate and prevented the legislation from advancing to the floor for consideration.  Now that Democrats are in the majority in the State Senate, they are addressing some legislative priorities that were blocked by the GOP. GENDA was at the top of the list. Many of the proponents argued it builds on the passage of the Marriage Equality Act in 2011.

Both local Senator Catherine Young (R-Olean) and Assembly Andy Goodell (R-Gerry) voted against the GENDA legislation.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo delivered his 2019 agenda on Monday, Dec. 17, 2018

ALBANY – Governor Andrew Cuomo laid out his agenda for the first 100 days of 2019 during a wide-ranging speech Monday in Manhattan, where he vowed to set New York on a progressive course that he says would make President Franklin Roosevelt proud.

Cuomo laid out dozens of measures he says he will push at the start of his third term, which begins Jan. 1.  He called it his “Justice Agenda” and likened it to a Declaration of Independence for New York.

His agenda includes making the state property-tax cap law permanent. It is set to expire in 2020. He also wants to extend a higher tax on the state’s top earners, something that is a consistent topic of debate at the Capitol.

The president also called for bolstering abortion rights, implementing the state DREAM Act, legalizing recreational marijuana, and approving the Child Victims Act – which would extend the statute of limitations for child sexual abuse crimes and open up a one-year window to revive previously timed-out claims.

In addition, Cuomo vowed to pass the Gender Expression Non-Discrimination Act – Also known as GENDA – which would provide protections for those who are transgender and add gender identity to the state’s hate crime and human rights laws. And he also vowed to put a legal end to conversion therapy in New York.

And with Democrats in control of both legislative chambers, Cuomo has vowed to bolster the state’s gun-control laws. Specifically, Cuomo has pointed to three different measures he’d like to see become law. One would officially ban bump stocks, the second would expand the wait period for gun-seekers flagged by the national background check database, and the third bill, known as the Red Flag Bill, would allow family members or school officials to petition a judge to block someone from owning a gun if the person is deemed to be a danger to themselves or others.

The governor also said he will push to enact reforms in the state’s criminal-justice system – starting with ending cash bail, saying it discriminates against lower-income defendants.

And Cuomo said he’s going to push for a number of reforms to make it easier to vote in New York, including making Election Day a state holiday.

Cuomo also vowed to push for automatic voter registration, early and mail-in voting and aligning the state and federal primaries, which are currently held on different days.

The agenda comes in advance of the governor working for the first time with a fully Democrat-controlled Legislature, following the Republicans losing control of the State Senate following the 2018 General Election.

A couple of local officials commented on the governor’s progressive agenda.

Former Jamestown City Council President and current Chair of the Jamestown Board of Public Utilities Gregory Rabb said that he was particularly pleased to see GENDA and the end of conversion therapy on the governor’s list of priorities.  Rabb – who was the first openly gay elected official in upstate New York – said he’s spent a good part of his advocating for the LGBTQ community and as he approaches retirement, he said it’s exciting to see the Governor’s commitment to the cause of human rights for all residents in the State.

Chautauqua County Democratic Election Commissioner Norman Green also provided a statement on the Governor’s Agenda, saying he’s in full support of reforming New York’s antiquated election laws that are disenfranchising voters.