In the absence of progress in the New York state legislature, demonstrators marched to the Nassau County legislative building yesterday to support a measure that would ban discrimination based on gender-identity.
Legislator Judy Jacobs (D-Westbury) planned to introduce an amendment to the current county human rights law which would broaden the definition of gender to specifically include transgender people.
It's a time of equality. We should recognize and respect differences.
--Jacobs
Nassau County does not specifically prohibit discrimination agains transgender individuals in housing, employment and public accommodation. Like Suffolk County, the Human Rights Law prohibits gender-based discrimination, with "gender" defined as the "biological and social characteristics of being female or male."
Because they're not explicitly part of the bill, transgendered people can be fired from their job, denied service, refused treatment or even face eviction.
One could argue that transgender has always been included [in the law], but if it's unclear, then why not make it explicit?
--Legislator Dave Denenberg (D-Merrick)
Jacobs notes that the amendment, which would alter the definition of gender under the law, has been submitted four times and failed each time.
I can get kicked out of my apartment [due to being transgendered] and I have no recourse to sue.
--Barbara Salva, Long Island Transgender Advocacy Coalition
By not having anti-discrimination protections, the government is saying it's OK to do this to us -- it's OK to treat us like subhumans,
--Andi Dier, LGBT activist from West Sayville
Dier says she was assaulted by bouncers at a Holbrook bar in March because her driver license photo no longer matches her physical appearance.
If you're against equal and just treatment of trans people, you're against human rights. And that is no side of history anyone wants to be on.
--Dier
No Republican legislators could be reached for comment.