WHEREAS, Governor Andrew Cuomo in his State of the State address this year proposed passage of a Women’s Equality Act; and

WHEREAS, the proposed act consists of 10 legislative goals that include codifying in state law the reproductive rights of women as currently recognized by federal and state courts; achieving pay equity for women; preventing sexual harassment in the workplace; and ending job discrimination against pregnant women, housing discrimination against victims of domestic violence and other forms of discrimination against women; and

WHEREAS, passage of the Women’s Equality Act would be fitting for New York State, which has a history of promoting equal status for women and which was the birthplace of the women’s movement with the Seneca Falls convention on women’s rights in 1848; and

WHEREAS, it is particularly important that New York take the lead to assert the rights of women at this time when women’s reproductive rights are under attack in many states and by some in Congress and on the U.S. Supreme Court; and

WHEREAS, the governor’s goal of codifying a woman’s reproductive rights into state law would help to guard these rights in the event that the U.S. Supreme Court acts to narrow them;

WHEREAS, the governor’s proposed Women’s Equality Act, particularly the proposal on reproductive rights, is facing resistance among some state legislators; and

WHEREAS, it is important that all supporters of equal rights for women show support for the Women’s Equality Act; and

WHEREAS, the UFT has a proud history as a progressive force in New York State; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, that the UFT supports the Women’s Equality Act as set forth by Governor Cuomo to prevent discrimination against women and to promote their equal rights.