“On July 2, we mark the 57th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. This monumental piece of federal legislation was the result of years of hard work from countless tireless advocates who stood strong against hate and demanded equality for all. As we celebrate this day, it’s critical that we use this time to recommit ourselves to ending discrimination and making everyone – no matter their race, sex or religion – feel safe within our communities.
“New York State has a long history of fighting against bigotry and continues to make great strides toward equality. This year, my Assembly colleagues and I passed critical legislation to further protect civil rights, including the Gender Discrimination Act, which expands protections for transgender and nonbinary people by allowing individuals to designate their sex as X on New York State driver’s licenses and government documents, as well as makes it easier and safer for individuals to petition for a change in name or sex designation (Ch. 158 of 2021). We also worked to reform prohibitive and discriminatory voting laws, which have historically targeted people of color, by restoring voting rights to formerly incarcerated New Yorkers (Ch. 103 of 2021).
“While these critical laws are milestones in the fight against hate, we still have a long ways to go. We can never forget the trailblazers who made the Civil Rights Act possible, and I’ll continue to fight against inequities in our society and work to end discrimination.”
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