This month, my State Senator Liz Krueger (D-28th District), will Reintroducing an inclusive Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) to the State Constitution. New York State’s Equal Protection Clause was adopted in 1938, prior to the Civil Rights Movement, the Women's Movement, the LGBT Movement, the Disability Rights Movement, and the many other Challenges to Discrimination in our State and Nation. Women, LGBT People, and People with Disabilities currently do Not have Equal Rights in New York State’s Constitution and it is Time to Update our Constitution to reflect a 21st Century understanding of Equal Rights.

The Proposed Amendment Updates current Equal Protection Language in the State Constitution to Prohibit Denial of Equality of Rights on the Basis of:

- Age
- Citizenship
- Color
- Creed
- Gender Identity or Expression
- Marital Status
- Military Status
- National Origin
- Physical or Mental Disability
- Pregnancy
- Race
- Religion
- Sex
- Sexual Orientation
- Other Immutable or Ascriptive Characteristics

The broadly Inclusive Language of the Amendment surpasses the Equal Rights Provisions of every other State in the Nation, as well as that of the U.S. Constitution. No State has Explicitly Granted Equal Rights to LGBT People or People with Disabilities.

Though the Federal Equal Rights Amendment, which would have Granted Women Equal Rights in the U.S. Constitution, narrowly Missed getting enough States to ratify it, 11 States, including California, Illinois, and Oregon, have Passed State ERAs pertaining to Women. New York has not.

Passing the Equal Rights Amendment at the Federal Level remains an important Goal, but a Progressive State such as New York can go further and include Comprehensive Protections in New York's Constitution.

Our Rights are increasingly under Attack from the Trump Administration, and it is essential that we Protect all New Yorkers from attempts to Trample on their Freedom. New York can and should be a National Leader, both Morally and Legally, by Updating our Constitution so All New Yorkers are Recognized and Respected as Equals.

With the New Progressive Democratic Majority in the State Senate, there is No reason we Cannot Pass this Comprehensive Amendment.

Passing it this year would only be the First Step, as Amending the New York Constitution requires both Houses of the legislature to Pass the Amendment in successive Legislative Sessions, followed by a Vote by the Public.

Krueger will be Working to Ensure we take the First Step in the Amendment Process this year.










NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker