NYC: $250,000 if establishments refuse to address someone by their preferred pronoun
New Yorkers may use the bathroom or locker room of their choice — based on their "gender identity," without having to show proof or documentation
In New York City, it is now illegal to discriminate anyone whose gender is male, female, "or something else entirely." The list is a guide for businesses, which can now be fined as much as $250,000 if establishments refuse to address someone by their preferred pronoun. Mayor Bill de Blasio's office released a list of 31 genders approved by the New York City Commission on Human Rights.
"A transgender person is someone whose gender identity does not match the sex they were assigned at birth."
The 31 genders listed include "drag king," "drag queen," "butch," "femme queen," "gender fluid," "gender blender," "gender gifted," "gender bender," and "femme person of transgender experience."
In addition, New Yorkers may also use the bathroom or locker room of their choice — based on their "gender identity," without having to show proof or documentation.
Bill de Blasio is following President Obama's lead. Obama tried to do through executive fiat what he could not get done through our democratic process. He decreed that schools across the country must allow men and boys to use the restrooms, locker rooms, and shower facilities previously reserved for girls.
The Obama administration ordered every public school district in the U.S. to allow transgender students to use the bathrooms that match the gender identity they have chosen.
Ted Cruz, at the time, said "having spent many years in law enforcement, I've handled far too many cases of child molesters, of pedophiles, of people who abused little kids. The threats of predators are serious, and we should not facilitate allowing grown men or boys to be in bathrooms with little girls."
In New York City, it's illegal to discriminate on the basis of gender identity and gender expression in the workplace, in public spaces, and in housing, according Commission on Human Right's fact sheet.
"Gender identity is "one's internal, deeply-held sense of one's gender as male, female, or something else entirely. Individuals have the right to follow dress codes and grooming standards consistent with their gender identity expression," the fact sheet says.
On a related topic, President Biden's administration has released a series of documents encouraging gender-reassignment surgery and hormone treatments for minors. The HHS documents describe what it calls appropriate treatments for transgender adolescents, including: "'Top' surgery – to create male-typical chest shape or enhance breasts;" and "'Bottom' surgery – surgery on genitals or reproductive organs, facial feminization or other procedures."
To be clear, the Biden administration is encouraging gender changing hormone therapy for minors in addition to “top therapy” which is the removal of healthy female breast tissue. “Bottom therapy” is a removal of healthy male genitalia in the case of transitioning to a woman.
"For transgender and nonbinary children and adolescents, early gender-affirming care is crucial to overall health and well-being as it allows the child or adolescent to focus on social transitions and can increase their confidence while navigating the healthcare system," the NCTSN wrote in their release. "It may include evidence-based interventions such as puberty blockers and gender-affirming hormones."
The Office of Safe and Supportive Schools in the Department of Education will offer new training for schools with experts and school leaders who will discuss the challenges faced by many transgender and nonbinary students and strategies and actions for providing support.
Over 14 percent of Biden-Harris Administration appointees identify as LGBTQI+.