City of Rochester
News Release
(Tuesday, June 4, 2013) – Rochester is known as the home to our nation’s great reformer and freedom fighter Susan B. Anthony, who continues to inspire us today. While she blazed the trail in the struggle for equality, a long road is still ahead of us. Governor Cuomo’s Women’s Equality Act brings New York to the forefront of advancing women’s rights.
The Act affirms a woman’s freedom of choice by codifying the federal law. It strengthens human trafficking laws by increasing the penalties for perpetrators and making prosecution and enforcement more effective. The Act protects victims of domestic violence by strengthening order-of-protection laws and covers women in the workplace by ensuring they receive the wages they are entitled to and by adopting a zero-tolerance policy for sexual harassment. It clarifies obligations that employers have in making reasonable accommodations for pregnant women.
I applaud Governor Andrew Cuomo for his leadership in breaking down barriers that enable discrimination and inequality based on gender. The Women's Equality Act is a collective and achievable endeavor to make New York a better place for all.
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News Media: For more information, contact the Communications Bureau at 428-7135.