Supporters say enshrine rights; opponents say more details needed

Rochester, New York – This election cycle, Proposition 1 is on your ballot. The same is true for opposition when there is strong support. However, there is no denying that this is a pivotal time for the state of New York.

“Assume that most people are unaware of its purpose. Jean Carroll of the First Unitarian Church of Rochester on Winton Road stated, “There is a lot of false information out there.”

Although citizens are already protected by several laws, she said it is crucial to make sure that fundamental rights are enshrined in the state constitution through an amendment.

“Race and religion are currently the only rights that are protected under the New York State Constitution,” she stated.

Carroll stated that age, gender, race, and disability are not covered in the agreement. Pregnancy, gender identity, and gender expression are also protected under the proposal.

“That’s right, so it just enshrines those rights,” stated Ellie Rosenbloom, head of the Rochester chapter of the National Council of Jewish Women. “Everyone has the same, equal rights across the board, regardless of their rights regarding abortion, disabilities, or LGBTQ people.”

According to Barbara Grosh of the League of Women Voters, having these rights enshrined ensures that they cannot be taken away in the future.

“If the political victories change, we don’t want those rights to be taken away,” she stated.

However, like many others, Joe Verdura has numerous questions before casting his ballot.

“It leaves out a lot if you look at how it’s put on the back of the ballot,” he remarked.

He claims that the wording is ambiguous. He is worried about gender identity and expression, as well as the proposal to provide protection for transgender athletes, or athletes who play on teams that reflect their gender identity.

In reference to women’s sports, he stated, “I think if it gets passed, everything that women have worked for to get equal rights is over.”

In addition, would the proposal restrict his or anybody else’s right to free speech? If this goes through, will he be able to vocally protest such acts in the future? It’s unclear if there will be any repercussions.

The opinion of Adam DelRegno is “totally against it.” Voters need more information, he said.

He remarked, “They must properly word it so people truly understand what’s going on.”

Full proposition:
This proposal amends Article 1, Section 11 of the New York Constitution. Section 11 now protects against unequal treatment based on race, color, creed, and religion. The proposal will amend the act to also protect against unequal treatment based on ethnicity, national origin, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, and pregnancy outcomes, as well as reproductive healthcare and autonomy. The amendment allows laws to prevent or undo past discrimination.