New York's Governor Strengthens Laws to Check Discrimination against Transgender

In a breather for the transgender community, the New York Governor, Andrew Cuomo, on Thursday announced to expand and strengthen the anti-discrimination laws in the state for protecting the community from discrimination.

With the move, employers, house owners, creditors and others service providers will be under scanner and at risk of penalties upon being involved in any form of discrimination on grounds of gender identity.

"It is intolerable to allow discrimination of transgender individuals and they are one of the most abused, harassed groups in society today," Cuomo said during a dinner hosted by the Empire State Pride Agenda gay rights group.

The order had made New York the first state in the United States to have taken forward a step in the direction of gay and transgender rights. The aim of the move is to check inequality both in public and private sector enterprises.

The move comes after several years of advocacies in the direction. The rights activists and advocates have long been fighting for the rights of the transgenders and now, their demands are finally approved by the Democrat, Cuomo.

Nathan Schaefer, Executive Director of the Empire State Pride Agenda, said that the move comes as a boon for the community. He added that the hard work that went into the accomplishment of the mission, over the years, has borne fruits now.

A week ago, California emerged as the first state to have given a nod payment of transgender inmate's sex reassignment operation.