Keck Explains New York State’s Proposition One in WAER Article

November 1, 2024

WAER

Thomas M. Keck

Political Science Department

Campbell Public Affairs Institute

Human Rights

New York State

State & Local

U.S. Elections

WAER

Thomas M. Keck

Proposition One aims to broaden the scope of whose rights are protected in New York state. Currently, the U.S. and state Constitutions protect New Yorkers from discrimination based on our race, color, creed or religion. But neither version protects citizens if discriminated against for simply being a woman.

Proposition One “would add sex and gender to the non-discrimination provisions of New York's constitution,” and would expand protections beyond a person’s biological sex, “to include orientation, gender identity and gender expression. So not only does it guarantee against old fashioned male discrimination against women, but also discrimination against LGBT persons,” says Thomas Keck, Michael O. Sawyer Chair of Constitutional Law and Politics.

Keck points out that reproductive rights already fall within New York’s state law. If, however, voters passed Prop One, that would codify gender protections.

“Which entrenches it, makes it harder to take away.” Keck explains how if interpreted as written, the law “should treat men and women equally, whatever gender you identify with, whether it's male, female, non-binary.”

Read more in the WAER article, “One important decision awaits CNY voters on the back of this year's 2024 ballot.”