http://www.newsday.com/news/local/wire/ny-bc-ny--anti-gaybias1218dec18,0,4301352.story?coll=ny-ap-regional-wire
ALBANY, N.Y. -- Gov. George Pataki signed a bill into law Tuesday to outlaw discrimination against homosexuals in New York state, 31 years after advocates began lobbying for it.
Earlier Tuesday, state senators had passed the Sexual Orientation Non-Discrimination Act (SONDA), 34-26. The state Assembly approved the measure in January _ as it has annually since 1993.
Pataki received an endorsement for re-election from Empire State Pride Agenda, the largest gay and lesbian group in the state, after the Republican state Senate said in October it would take up the bias bill.
SONDA would protect people from abuse, harassment and discrimination in employment, housing, education and public services based on their sexual orientation. It would become law 30 days after gaining the governor's signature, making New York the 13th state to prohibit anti-gay bias.
Michael Brennan, a Rochester resident who came to Albany to protest SONDA, carried a sign outside the Capitol Tuesday that read "God's plan is marriage between husband and wife."
"This is leading down the road to loss of free speech. Eventually, my convictions will become a hate crime," he said, before he and transgender advocates began arguing. "It will interfere with my ability to teach my grandchildren my values."
"This is a sad day for Christians," said the Rev. Duane Motley of New Yorkers for Constitutional Freedoms. "Homosexuality is condemned in the Bible. Christian businessmen should have the right to not hire people that they believe are engaged in immoral behavior."