New York Adds Gender Identity and Expression Protections for Interns

New York has enacted legislation (Senate Bill 7382), which adds gender identity or expression as a protected class to the intern provision of the New York State Human Rights Law. Senate Bill 7382 is effective immediately.

The Details

As a reminder, Section 296-c of the New York State Human Rights Law (NYSHRL) prohibits all New York employers from taking certain unlawful discriminatory actions on the basis of an intern’s age, race, creed, color, national origin, citizenship or immigration status, sex, sexual orientation, military status, disability, predisposing genetic characteristics, marital status, or status as a victim of domestic violence.

Effective immediately, an intern’s gender identity or expression is also protected under the NYSHRL.

Next Steps

• Update policies and sexual harassment prevention training to ensure compliance with Senate Bill 7382.
• Train managers and hiring personnel on the update to the law.