New Yorkers for Constitutional Freedoms has been warning citizens about two dangerous bills before the New York State Legislature.  They are the Gender Non-Discrimination Act or GENDA (S2406 Duane/A5710 Gottfried) and the Dignity for All Students Act (S1987 Duane/A5710 O’Donnell).

GENDA will provide protection from discrimination based on “gender” or “gender expression” in the areas of employment, housing, or public accommodations.  The bill is often referred to as the “Bathroom Bill” though, because it will grant men who simply say that they believe they are women trapped in men’s bodies access to women’s restrooms, locker rooms and shower facilities.  DASA would do the same thing for school-age children in public schools.

Some Legislators have scoffed at these assertions, but a story from the State of Maine demonstrates what may happen in New York if either of these bills are passed and signed into law.

Fox News reports, “The Maine Human Rights Commissions is taking heat over a proposal to ban schools from enforcing gender divisions in sports teams, school organizations, bathrooms and locker rooms, saying forcing a student into a particular room or group because of their biological gender amounts to discrimination.”

The issue came to light last year, when the Commission ruled that a school district had violated the Maine Human Rights Act by denying a 12-year-old transgendered boy access to the girl’s restroom.

Yes, you heard that right. The Maine Human Rights Commission believes that forcing a student into a particular room or group because of his or her biological gender amounts to discrimination.

We do not want the same thing to happen in New York. The Legislature needs to reject GENDA and DASA.