"The next bill before me is Introductory number 22-A sponsored by Council Members Brewer, Comrie, Jackson, Jennings, Koppell, Lopez, Martinez, Monserrate, Perkins, Quinn, Sanders, Seabrook, Stewart, Vann, DeBlasio, Reyna, Moskowitz, Gonzalez, Rivera, James, Yassky, Gerson, Barron, Palma, Baez, Katz, Weprin, Clarke, Liu, Dilan, Reed, Sears, Boyland, Gentile, Recchia, Foster, Avella, Arroyo, Gennaro, Speaker Miller and Public Advocate, Betsy Gotbaum.

"Intro. 22-A, among other things, adds the term 'partnership status' to the list of classes protected under New York City's Human Rights Law.  The bill defines 'partnership status' to cover all individuals in a domestic partnership. The City's Human Rights Law has long been a central tool for ensuring fairness in the workplace and in our City.  Explicitly including partnership status on the list of protected classes is a commonsense measure in keeping with our City's best traditions of justice and equality.

"While there are provisions of this bill that are of concern, on balance, the central tenet of this legislation makes this bill worthy of support.  This Administration has consistently supported and advanced measures that protect New Yorkers from being discriminated against based on their status as domestic partners, and it is important to further this cause by signing this bill into law.

"I would like to thank Pat Gatling, the Commissioner of the Human Rights Commission, and the City Council for their work on this bill."