The Sylvia Rivera Law Project is pleased that Governor Paterson has decided to make it clear that New York State employees may not be discriminated against on the basis of their gender identity or gender expression. The governor plans to sign an executive order that will explicitly extend the non-discrimination policy to cover transgender people who work for the state. 

While this is an important step forward, we still have much further to go in our struggle for gender self-determination and racial and economic justice. If you have experienced discrimination at work, please feel free to check out our publication on your rights in employment or come to us for services.  You can also support our work to make sure that all people are free to self-determine their gender identity and expression, regardless of income or race, without facing discrimination, harassment, or violence.

The signing of the Executive Order will take place at 10:30 tomorrow at the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Community Center. To read more about this exciting development, click here for the New York Times story.