Rift Over Inclusion of Transgenders May Derail
New York Nondiscrimination Bill, SONDA
By Sarah Coppola
ALBANY BUREAU

Albany - Legislation designed to protect gays and lesbians from
discrimination may finally pass after 30 years in the State Legislature, but
supportive lawmakers and advocates fear that a new rift between an
established gay organization and transgender groups will threaten the
bill's prospects.

Despite support in the Democrat-controlled Assembly, the Sexual Orientation
Non-Discrimination Act has never come to a vote in the Republican-led
Senate. Advocates say it faces its best chance to become law this year, with
Gov. George Pataki endorsing it in his State of the State speech last month
and moderate Republican senators looking toward their re-election campaigns
this fall.

The bill is written to protect gays and lesbians, but transgendered people -
those who cross-dress, have sex-change operations or assume other gender
roles - are lobbying to be specifically included as well.

"Basic human rights will continue to be denied to the trans community
without an amendment to this bill," said Joann Prinzavalli, 50, of White
Plains, who was fired as an attorney at an insurance firm after being pictured
on the local news wearing a dress and rallying for transgender rights.

Prinzavalli is a member of the New York State Transgender Coalition, one of
the advocacy groups that lobbied yesterday to be included in the legislation.

A few localities, including Suffolk County, have enacted anti-discrimination
laws that protect transgendered people. The Empire State Pride Agenda, the
state's leading lobbying group for gays and lesbians, has been pushing for
transgender-friendly legislation in New York City, but opposes including
them in the state law because the advocates fear that would give the
Senate's most conservative members an excuse to stall the bill.

"We've waited long enough to get this done, and any last-minute,
ill-prepared attempt to amend the bill is going to kill it," said Joe Tarver,
spokesman for the group.

But transgender advocates say they're getting tired of taking a backseat to
gays and lesbians in the quest for civil rights.

"We helped them get where they are and they've sold us down the river,"
said Sylvia Rivera, director of Street Transgender Action Revolutionaries, an
advocacy group.

The bill's Assembly sponsor, Steve Sanders (D-Manhattan), said he believes
transgendered people would be protected under the language in the existing
bill. Sanders echoed Tarver's fear that the Senate would be likely to
balk at a revised proposal.

John McArdle, spokesman for Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno (R-
Brunswick), said, "We continue to still be reviewing the original bill."
Pataki aides did not return a telephone call seeking comment

Source: Newsday
Date: February 6, 2002
URL: www.newsday.com/news/local/newyork/ny-
stcros062577241feb06.story
Via: Joann Prinzivalli
Received: Feb. 7, 2002