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geminigirlAfter 32 years SONDA passes in Albany, NY today!!! (SONDA=Sexual Orientation Non-Discrimnation Act) It's not a perfect law...there are no trans-protections for example, but a little is better than a lot, and it's easier to get modifications made to an existing law than to scrap the whole entire bill and try to rewrite one that will pass.
For those of you who are interested...
SONDA (The Sexual Orientation Non-Discrimination Act)
(S.720/A.1971)
ANSWERS TO COMMON QUESTIONS
What is the Sexual Orientation Non-Discrimination Act?
It is a bill that merely adds two words - sexual
orientation - to the already existing New York State
Human Rights Law. The current law makes it illegal in
New York State to discriminate on the basis of race,
sex, creed, color, national origin, disability, age
and marital status in the areas of employment,
housing, public accommodations, education and credit.
This act would extend current law to ban
discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation as
well.
Why is it necessary?
Through its Human Rights Law, New York State has
adopted a policy banning discrimination against groups
of citizens who clearly face widespread social
antagonism and unequal treatment. Unfortunately,
lesbians and gay men are not covered. When hostility
prevents them from holding a job to support themselves
or their families, finding a suitable home of their
choice, or being able to access the services of public
businesses because of certain characteristics, theState has drawn the line and declared certain
treatment off limits. Clearly, lesbians and gay men
are such a group. There are many cases where social
antagonism against lesbians and gay men has led to
many being denied and fired from a job, harassed in
the workplace, faced with a "glass ceiling," harassed
and faced with eviction by their landlords, steered
away from certain areas when looking for a home and
otherwise treated as second class citizens solely
because of their sexual orientation.
Aren't lesbians and gay men already protected by the
law?
No. Neither federal nor state law bans sexual
orientation discrimination in employment, housing,
public accommodations, credit or education. Nor have
the state or federal courts interpreted existing law
to protect lesbians and gay men against such
discrimination. While some municipalities have passed
anti-discrimination laws, they are limited and without
the force and effect of state law.
Doesn't the act give lesbians and gay men special
rights?
No. As with the rest of the human rights law, all this
act does is mandate equal treatment and create an
equal playing field. It is the means used by state
legislatures for decades to provide for equal
treatment of certain groups of citizens who are
Won't this act create a slippery slope towards banning
discrimination based upon eye color, etc.?
No. The categories in the Human Rights Laws reflect
identifiable social groups of citizens who, as a
group, clearly have faced a history of unequal
treatment. They are not frivolously determined
categories. The historical experiences of lesbians and
gay men include social and legal ostracism and
marginalization. Lesbians and gay men themselves are
the targets of groups who feel that they should be
denied the rights of other citizens.
Won't this act mandate same-sex marriage?
No. The act amends only the human rights and executive
laws and does not touch the marriage or domestic
relations laws of these state. In fact, the act
explicitly states that it does not include same-sex
marriage.
Will the act create a quota system requiring employers
to hire lesbians and gay men?
No. Nothing in the act creates a duty of affirmative
action for the hiring of lesbians and gay men. It
requires only that lesbian and gay employees, like
their straight peers, be treated fairly and based upon
their merit and abilities as employees.
How does the act apply to religious groups?
Nothing in the act alters the religious exemptions
that already exist in the human rights law. Nor does
the act supersede a religious institution's First
Amendment right to hire and fire according to the
tenets of its religion.
Does the act apply to me if I want to make some extra
income by renting out a room in my home?
No. The current human rights law exempts single family
and owner-occupied two family homes. Nothing in this
act would alter that exemption.
Do employers support equal treatment for lesbians and
gay men?
Yes. In fact, corporations have taken the lead in
acknowledging that discrimination is bad for business.
A growing number of employers, from Fortune 500 to
smaller businesses, have adopted their own policies of
non-discrimination. While these policies reflect the
good intentions of hundreds of employers in the state,
they are not legally enforceable. Only the sexual
orientation non-discrimination act would ensure that
lesbian and gay employees receive equal treatment.
Do New Yorkers support equal treatment for lesbians
and gay men?
Yes. Every poll taken in the State of New York in
recent years shows overwhelming support for equality
for lesbians and gay men. Even the Republican
Party-commissioned poll shows that 65% of New York
Republicans favor the Sexual Orientation
Non-Discrimination Act.
Have other states passed sexual orientation
non-discrimination laws?
Yes. Twelve states, most clustered in the Northeast
region of the country, and Washington D.C. have
enacted similar comprehensive non-discrimination laws.
They are: California, Connecticut, Hawaii, Maryland,
Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nevada, New Hampshire, New
Jersey, Rhode Island, Vermont and Wisconsin.
Additionally, 20 New York counties, cities and other
localities have adopted some kind of
anti-discrimination measure that includes sexual
orientation, including: Albany County, City of Albany,
Village of Alfred, Town of Brighton, City of Buffalo,
Town of East Hampton, City of Ithaca, Nassau County,
New York City, Onondaga County, Town of Peekskill,
City of Plattsburgh, City of Rochester, Town of
Southhampton, Suffolk County, City of Syracuse,
Tompkins County, City of Troy, City of Watertown, and
Westchester County.
Where do Republicans stand on this act?
Of the above twelve states that have passed sexual
orientation non-discrimination laws, seven have been
signed by Republican governors. The law recently
enacted in New Hampshire was passed by two Republican
houses of the state legislature. In New York, the
Assembly bill has gained Republican support in each of
the last 5 years that it has been passed, including
the support of the Assembly Minority Leader. Governor
Pataki has publicly indicated his intention to join
his colleagues in other states and sign the act if
passed by the Senate.
For those of you who are interested...
SONDA (The Sexual Orientation Non-Discrimination Act)
(S.720/A.1971)
ANSWERS TO COMMON QUESTIONS
What is the Sexual Orientation Non-Discrimination Act?
It is a bill that merely adds two words - sexual
orientation - to the already existing New York State
Human Rights Law. The current law makes it illegal in
New York State to discriminate on the basis of race,
sex, creed, color, national origin, disability, age
and marital status in the areas of employment,
housing, public accommodations, education and credit.
This act would extend current law to ban
discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation as
well.
Why is it necessary?
Through its Human Rights Law, New York State has
adopted a policy banning discrimination against groups
of citizens who clearly face widespread social
antagonism and unequal treatment. Unfortunately,
lesbians and gay men are not covered. When hostility
prevents them from holding a job to support themselves
or their families, finding a suitable home of their
choice, or being able to access the services of public
businesses because of certain characteristics, theState has drawn the line and declared certain
treatment off limits. Clearly, lesbians and gay men
are such a group. There are many cases where social
antagonism against lesbians and gay men has led to
many being denied and fired from a job, harassed in
the workplace, faced with a "glass ceiling," harassed
and faced with eviction by their landlords, steered
away from certain areas when looking for a home and
otherwise treated as second class citizens solely
because of their sexual orientation.
Aren't lesbians and gay men already protected by the
law?
No. Neither federal nor state law bans sexual
orientation discrimination in employment, housing,
public accommodations, credit or education. Nor have
the state or federal courts interpreted existing law
to protect lesbians and gay men against such
discrimination. While some municipalities have passed
anti-discrimination laws, they are limited and without
the force and effect of state law.
Doesn't the act give lesbians and gay men special
rights?
No. As with the rest of the human rights law, all this
act does is mandate equal treatment and create an
equal playing field. It is the means used by state
legislatures for decades to provide for equal
treatment of certain groups of citizens who are
Won't this act create a slippery slope towards banning
discrimination based upon eye color, etc.?
No. The categories in the Human Rights Laws reflect
identifiable social groups of citizens who, as a
group, clearly have faced a history of unequal
treatment. They are not frivolously determined
categories. The historical experiences of lesbians and
gay men include social and legal ostracism and
marginalization. Lesbians and gay men themselves are
the targets of groups who feel that they should be
denied the rights of other citizens.
Won't this act mandate same-sex marriage?
No. The act amends only the human rights and executive
laws and does not touch the marriage or domestic
relations laws of these state. In fact, the act
explicitly states that it does not include same-sex
marriage.
Will the act create a quota system requiring employers
to hire lesbians and gay men?
No. Nothing in the act creates a duty of affirmative
action for the hiring of lesbians and gay men. It
requires only that lesbian and gay employees, like
their straight peers, be treated fairly and based upon
their merit and abilities as employees.
How does the act apply to religious groups?
Nothing in the act alters the religious exemptions
that already exist in the human rights law. Nor does
the act supersede a religious institution's First
Amendment right to hire and fire according to the
tenets of its religion.
Does the act apply to me if I want to make some extra
income by renting out a room in my home?
No. The current human rights law exempts single family
and owner-occupied two family homes. Nothing in this
act would alter that exemption.
Do employers support equal treatment for lesbians and
gay men?
Yes. In fact, corporations have taken the lead in
acknowledging that discrimination is bad for business.
A growing number of employers, from Fortune 500 to
smaller businesses, have adopted their own policies of
non-discrimination. While these policies reflect the
good intentions of hundreds of employers in the state,
they are not legally enforceable. Only the sexual
orientation non-discrimination act would ensure that
lesbian and gay employees receive equal treatment.
Do New Yorkers support equal treatment for lesbians
and gay men?
Yes. Every poll taken in the State of New York in
recent years shows overwhelming support for equality
for lesbians and gay men. Even the Republican
Party-commissioned poll shows that 65% of New York
Republicans favor the Sexual Orientation
Non-Discrimination Act.
Have other states passed sexual orientation
non-discrimination laws?
Yes. Twelve states, most clustered in the Northeast
region of the country, and Washington D.C. have
enacted similar comprehensive non-discrimination laws.
They are: California, Connecticut, Hawaii, Maryland,
Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nevada, New Hampshire, New
Jersey, Rhode Island, Vermont and Wisconsin.
Additionally, 20 New York counties, cities and other
localities have adopted some kind of
anti-discrimination measure that includes sexual
orientation, including: Albany County, City of Albany,
Village of Alfred, Town of Brighton, City of Buffalo,
Town of East Hampton, City of Ithaca, Nassau County,
New York City, Onondaga County, Town of Peekskill,
City of Plattsburgh, City of Rochester, Town of
Southhampton, Suffolk County, City of Syracuse,
Tompkins County, City of Troy, City of Watertown, and
Westchester County.
Where do Republicans stand on this act?
Of the above twelve states that have passed sexual
orientation non-discrimination laws, seven have been
signed by Republican governors. The law recently
enacted in New Hampshire was passed by two Republican
houses of the state legislature. In New York, the
Assembly bill has gained Republican support in each of
the last 5 years that it has been passed, including
the support of the Assembly Minority Leader. Governor
Pataki has publicly indicated his intention to join
his colleagues in other states and sign the act if
passed by the Senate.
