New York state has been formally designated as a safe haven for trans adolescents, families, and health care professionals.
The new law, signed by Governor Kathy Hochul on Sunday before the annual Pride March in New York City, stands in stark contrast to the record number of anti-LGBTQ+ bills that have been proposed around the country.
“I stand together with champions of this movement who have joined us today to say no more,” the Democratic administrator said. “We will give you the template, rest of the country. We will show you what you need to do.”
The safe haven bill prevents local authorities from supporting other states’ investigations into families seeking legal gender-affirming treatment and assures that trans children will not be removed from parents who assist them in seeking out gender-affirming care. Additionally, it safeguards the medical records of those who travel to New York for this type of treatment as well as the medical professionals who decide to assist them.
The abovementioned measure was one of three new pieces of legislation Hochul signed that updated the state’s official papers’ “outdated and stigmatizing terminology” regarding sexual orientation and gender identity. The governor also nominated the first openly transgender male judge to the New York State of Claims earlier this month.
New York thus continues to uphold a political reputation for having some of the most progressive laws for LGBTQ Americans in the nation, whereas in the rest of United States more than 520 rules and law had been introduced as of May to counter so-called “LGBT propaganda”, drag queen shows, and gender-affirming therapies for adolescents.
