SENATE PASSES MEASURE TO MAKE STATE CONSTITUTION GENDER NEUTRAL

Tuesday, June 13, 2000

The Senate today passed a Constitutional Amenvdment, sponsored by Senator Patricia McGee (R-C, Franklinville), which would change the New York State Constitution to either be gender neutral or include both genders, depending on the circumstance. All pertinent passages in the 46-page state constitution would be rewritten.

"Changing the language of the New York State Constitution from masculine to gender neutral in no way alters the rights, powers, duties or privileges enumerated by that document," said Senator McGee. "These changes simply reflect the reality in which we live today as opposed to the one in which the Constitution was written and ratified."

The Amendment (S.3340B) would change about 170 words in the state constitution to no longer identify officials only as "he" or "him". The bill proposes amendments to the state constitution to include feminine and non-gender-specific words where the male gender is now used.

"Without question, men and women are afforded equal protection under the law in New York State. Our Constitution, the backbone of our legal system, should reflect this equality," Senate Majority Leader Joseph L. Bruno said. "In the year 2000, an assemblyman should be called an assembly member, a fireman a firefighter, and a workman should be a worker."

The bill was sent to the Assembly.

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