ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — Lawmakers in New York state voted Tuesday to ban gay conversion therapy and add gender identity and expression to the state’s anti-discrimination laws.
The first bill would prohibit licensed therapists from trying to change a minor’s sexual orientation. Fourteen states have already passed similar laws.
The anti-bias measure would add gender identity and gender expression to the list of protected classes in the state’s anti-discrimination law, making it illegal to deny a person a job, housing, public accommodations or education based on their gender expression or gender identity.
The bills now move to Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who is expected to sign them into law.
Both bills had repeatedly passed the Democrat-controlled Assembly but died in the Senate until this year, when Democrats took over the chamber following last November’s election gains. Supporters said the two pieces of legislation are the most significant civil rights bills specifically impacting the state’s LGBTQ community since same-sex marriage passed in 2011.
The bills passed on the third day of the 2019 session, reflecting the priority many lawmakers placed on them.
“It’s a new day in Albany,” said Sen. Brad Hoylman, a Manhattan Democrat and the only openly gay member of the Senate. He said the anti-bias bill will protect the rights of transgender and gender non-conforming New Yorkers while the other bill would ban a “barbaric” practice. Conversion therapy has already been denounced by organizations such as the American Psychiatric Association.
Three years ago Cuomo signed an executive order banning insurance coverage for conversion therapy. He’s also a supporter of the anti-bias bill and on Tuesday praised the Legislature for passing it.
“This is an issue of basic fairness, and today marks an historic day for those in the LGBTQ community who fought tirelessly for the passage of this bill,” he said in a statement.
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