On an otherwise dismal night for LGBTQ rights at the top of the ballot, New York State residents approved the Equal Rights Amendment and queer incumbents rolled to victory in state and federal races in New York City.
The passage of the Equal Rights Amendment, known as Proposal 1, means the Equal Protection of the Law clause of the state constitution — specifically Section 11 of the State Bill of Rights — will be amended to shield against discrimination on the basis of pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, and more. It would deliver a solid layer of protection from government-driven discrimination, according to legal experts.
