Holding a clear sign, Kaylah Denton, 15, of Poughkeepsie, New York, center, watches the LGBTQ Pride march, Sunday, June 30, 2019, in New York. (AP Photo/Tina Fineberg)
LGBTQ Pride
(Albany, NY/77WABC)-Hours after the Democratic NY State Legislature approved it, NY Gov. Andrew Cuomo Tuesday quickly signed legislation repealing the 1976 law allowing police officers to stop-and-frisk and arrest transgender people.
I just signed legislation repealing the discriminatory "Walking While Trans" ban.
For too long, trans people have been unfairly targeted & disproportionately policed for innocent conduct based solely on their appearance.
NY will never stop fighting for #LGBTQ rights & justice.
— Archive: Governor Andrew Cuomo (@NYGovCuomo) February 2, 2021
Cuomo said in a statement the ‘Walking While Trans’ policy is one example of the ugly undercurrents of injustices that transgender New Yorkers, especially those of color, face simply for walking down the street.”
He added “Repealing the archaic ‘Walking While Trans’ (law) is a critical step toward reforming our policing system and reducing the harassment and criminalization transgender people face simply for being themselves.”
The repeal was quickly hailed by Equality New York:
"Governor Cuomo has made LGBTQI history again by signing the repeal of the #WalkingWhileTrans ban which includes the sealing of records." @Tanyaasapansa63 Co-Chair @EqualityNewYork https://t.co/ZSlt3ECNY9
— Equality New York (@EqualityNewYork) February 2, 2021
State Senator Brad Hoylman sponsored the bill to repeal the law.
Hoylman said in a press release issued Tuesday afternoon the 1976 law “provided law enforcement with broad powers to stop any individual for a vague loitering offense.”
“Thanks to the hard work and determination of the LGBTQ community, in particular, transgender and gender-nonconforming New Yorkers who bravely shared their stories, New York has repealed this statute once and for all,” Hoylman added.
