Village attorney checks into planVillage-based licensed master social worker Sean Endress has seen the devastation people who may look or act a gender different than their biological sex face when they are denied the right to live in certain buildings or denied seats in restaurants.
"Trans people are some of the most marginalized in our society," said Endress, who specializes in support, education and advocacy in gender identity, sexuality and mental health.
With the support of Endress and other local residents, the village board is considering a human rights ordinance that would add gender identity to the list of qualities protected from discrimination. New York state human rights laws protects people from discrimination based on age, race, creed, color, national origin, sexual orientation, military status, sex, disability, predisposing genetic characteristics and marital status. The village ordinance would include all those qualities and add the term gender identity as a protected quality.
