Lawmakers double down on transgender bias

Dear Editor: On Feb. 22, the Trump administration made a stand against transgender children. Trump invalidated guidance from the Obama administration to let schoolchildren use the bathroom that corresponds with their gender identity.

On April 17, three members of the Ulster County Legislature’s Laws, Rules and Governmental Services Committee — Carl Belfiglio, Kevin Roberts and Craig Lopez, along with the decisive vote of Legislature Chairman Kenneth Ronk — voted against simply allowing a public hearing about Proposed Local Law 18. This law would prohibit discrimination against transgender Ulster County citizens in housing and access to public services and facilities. The law also would have allowed folks to use the bathroom that corresponds with their gender identity. But Belfiglio, Roberts, Lopez and Ronk could not even allow a hearing.

On April 25, New York state Sens. Terrence Murphy, Ruben Díaz, Martin Golden, Andrew Lanza, Thomas O’Mara and Elaine Phillips killed GENDA, the Gender Expression Non-Discrimination Act, in the Investigations and Government Operations Committee. GENDA would protect transgender and gender-nonconforming folks from discrimination in employment, housing and public services and facilities.

Transgender and gender-nonconforming Americans have long been subject to discrimination, harassment and violence simply for being who they are. It is distressing that in 2017, our lawmakers have doubled down on disregard for basic human rights.

Michelle Sutton, Highland