It’s been nearly 100 years since women gained the right to vote, and this month is devoted to honoring women who have fought to enact change. Yet, we’re still fighting for full gender equality. That’s why I helped pass the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA), a change to the New York State Constitution that would protect individuals from discrimination on the basis of sex (A.271). These protections will help level the playing field in all public areas, from the workplace to the classroom.

Further, I helped pass a measure giving new mothers peace of mind once they return to work by clarifying that lactation is a pregnancy-related condition (A.5975). The bill requires employers to provide reasonable accommodations to women who choose to breastfeed their child, rather than forcing them to pump in their car or a closet.

While these are good steps toward making New York more inclusive for women, we still have a ways to go before full gender equality is achieved. The gender wage gap persists, hurting working women who are trying to provide for themselves and their families. New York State has the smallest gap in the nation, with women earning 89 cents to each dollar a man makes, but we need to fully close that gap to give women equal footing.[1]

In addition to the women’s equality legislation, I helped pass a bill aimed at preventing discrimination at schools. We extended the anti-discrimination protections of the state’s Human Rights Law to all public schools, including colleges and BOCES (A.3425). Currently, these critical protections only apply to private schools. Our children need to know they’ll be accepted for who they are no matter if they attend a public or private institution.

These anti-discrimination reforms show that New York will not stand idly by while acts of hate and intolerance are committed. Each and every individual deserves a voice and should never be silenced, bullied or threatened.

As always, I’m here to help. If you have any questions or concerns about this or any community matter, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me at 315-452-1115 or at StirpeA@nyassembly.gov.