The New York State Division of Human Rights (Division) announces the resumption of its public awareness campaign about the protections against gender identity discrimination offered by the Gender Expression Non-Discrimination Act (GENDA). The Division will restart the campaign with a virtual event on September 24, 2020.

“Educating the public about their rights and obligations is just as vital as enforcement,” said NYS Division of Human Rights Interim Commissioner Johnathan Smith.  “No New Yorker should face discrimination due to their gender identity or expression.  The Division will work tirelessly to ensure that transgender, gender non-conforming, and non-binary New Yorkers have every opportunity to participate fully in the economic and cultural life of the State.”

In January 2019, Governor Andrew Cuomo signed GENDA, landmark civil rights legislation that prohibits discrimination based on gender identity or expression.  In January 2020—as part of the one-year anniversary of the enactment of GENDA—Governor Cuomo directed the Division to launch a statewide GENDA Know Your Rights campaign.  That campaign began on January 29, 2020 with an event headlined by Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul at the Hetrick-Martin Institute, a New York City based organization that provides services to LGBTQ+ youth. Subsequent programming was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The first event in the restarted campaign will take place on September 24, 2020 at 6 pm and will feature a virtual presentation by Division staff to LGBTQ+ communities of Long Island and the Hudson Valley.  The presentation is being done in partnership with the LGBT Network, Rockland County Pride, Jewish Family Service, Peekskill Pride, The Loft: LGBT Community Center, Pride for Youth, and WJCS Center Lane.  Other virtual presentations will focus on other regions of New York State, including:

• October 8, 2020 at 6 pm (Capital District and Upper Hudson Valley)
• October 22, 2020 at 6 pm (North Country, Mohawk Valley, Southern Tier, and Central NY)
• October 29, 2020 at 6 pm (Western New York and Rochester/Finger Lakes)
• November 12, 2020 at 6 pm (New York City)

The campaign will conclude in November, which is Transgender Awareness Month, with a statewide virtual panel discussion about transgender rights and discrimination based on gender identity and expression.

Further information about these events, including registration, and additional information on upcoming events can be found by visiting DHR’s webpage at https://dhr.ny.gov/genda. You can also follow @NYSHumanRights on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn for updates on the campaign.