Growing up I was taught to treat everyone in the same way I want to be treated. Living
by the Golden Rule leaves no room for prejudice or discrimination.
This year all of us can vote to add to our state constitution protections from
discrimination for every New Yorker. The New York Equal Rights Amendment will be a
ballot measure to be voted on in the November general election. Adding more rights to
our state constitution provides stronger protection than regular laws, which can be
weakened or even revoked.
Right now, New Yorkers are protected from discrimination based on a person’s race and
religion. That’s good, but not good enough. We must expand those rights to include
protection from discrimination that people suffer because of their ethnicity, nation of
origin, sex – including gender expression and identity, pregnancy and pregnancy
outcomes, reproductive healthcare, and autonomy.
I encourage you to flip your ballot over and vote “Yes” for the New York Equal Rights
Amendment. Regardless of who is in the Governor’s mansion, all of us deserve to live
free from discrimination.
