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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 30, 2002
PR-101-02
www.nyc.gov


MAYOR MICHAEL R. BLOOMBERG SIGNS BILL ADDING PROTECTION FROM GENDER DISCRIMINATION TO THE CITY'S HUMAN RIGHTS LAW


Remarks by Mayor Bloomberg at a Public Hearing on Local Laws


"The bill before me today is Introductory Number 24, sponsored by Speaker Miller and Councilmembers Perkins, Lopez, Quinn, Reed, Moskowitz, Rodriguez, Boyland, Addabbo Jr., Avella, Brewer, Barron Clarke, Davis, DeBlasio, Gennaro, Gerson, Katz, Koppell, Liu, Martinez, McMahon, Monserrate, Rivera, Sears, Weprin, and Yassky. This bill, which would take effect immediately, would amend the City Human Rights Law by adding a new subdivision that would define the term 'gender.'

"The Law Department has previously opined that transgendered persons are already protected under provisions of our local law which address discrimination based on actual or perceived gender and disability. The Council's bill merely reinforces this concept.

"Under the current City law, discrimination in employment, housing and public accommodations is prohibited based on, actual or perceived age, race, creed, color, national origin, gender, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, alienage or citizenship status. This bill will provide a detailed definition of gender-based discrimination. It will define gender to include "a person's 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 legal sex assigned to that person at birth."

www.nyc.gov

Contact: Ed Skyler / Jordan Barowitz
(212) 788-2958