NYS Assembly Unanimously Passes Assembly Member Danny O'Donnell's Statewide Gender Neutral Bathrooms Bill

NYS Assembly passes bill A5240A with a 142 - 0 (unofficial) vote

Albany - June 21, 2020 - Tuesday evening, legislation making all public single-occupancy bathrooms in New York State gender neutral passed the New York State Assembly with overwhelming bipartisan support. The legislation applies to restaurants, bars, schools, and other public facilities across the State, and ensures that transgender, gender nonconforming, and nonbinary (TGNC) New Yorkers can use public facilities without fear of harassment or discrimination. The bill is expected to pass the New York State Senate shortly, as well.

Assembly Member Danny O'Donnell said, "This is a proud day for New York. Everyone should be able to access public accommodations without fear of discrimination or harassment, no matter their gender or gender identity. Placing restrictions on who can use public restrooms not only violates individuals' basic civil rights, it all too often threatens the privacy and safety of transgender, nonbinary, and gender nonconforming people who are just trying to go about their day. Today, New York State is affirming transgender, nonbinary, and gender nonconforming people's right to be themselves.

At a time when States across the country, as well as the Federal Administration, are stoking the flames of hate and trying to roll back rights and protections for the LGBTQ and TGNC communities, it is more important than ever that we support, protect, and affirm transgender, nonbinary, and gender nonconforming individuals. Passing this crucial legislation is a major step forward, and further cements New York State's place as a national leader and a beacon of hope in the fight for safety and dignity for all.

I want to express my deepest gratitude to Senator Julia Salazar for her dedicated work advancing this legislation, as well as to Senator Andrew Lanza, who introduced this bill in the Senate two years ago. I also want to thank the 57 Assembly co-sponsors, including several Republicans, for standing up for this basic right. It is encouraging and inspiring to see that in New York, LGBTQ rights do not have to be a partisan issue, and we can all work together to ensure the safety and dignity of transgender, nonbinary, and gender nonconforming New Yorkers."

Daniel O'Donnell, the first openly gay man elected to the New York State Assembly, has been a progressive voice in Albany since he was elected to represent the 69th District in 2002. He is a local and national leader of LGBTQ rights, including authoring and sponsoring of New York State's Marriage Equality Law, which was signed into law in 2011, the Dignity for All Students Act, which was the first time trans rights were written into New York state law, and the legislation prohibiting "gay and trans panic defenses", in 2019. His district includes Manhattan Valley, Morningside Heights, and the Upper West Side. He serves as the Chair of the Tourism, Parks, Arts and Sports Development Committee, and of the Codes Subcommittee on Criminal Procedure; and is a member of the Education; Codes; Environmental Conservation; and Tourism, Arts & Sports Development committees.