4/27/16 N.Y. St. Reg. Exec. Order No. 156
WHEREAS, New York State is a national leader in protecting the civil rights and liberties of all of its citizens;
WHEREAS, New York State in 1945 enacted the first state law against discrimination in the nation, which now prohibits discrimination on many bases including age, race, creed, color, national origin, sexual orientation, military status, sex, gender identity, marital status, and disability;
WHEREAS, protecting the civil rights and liberties of lesbian, gay, bi-sexual, and transgender (LGBT) persons is a compelling state sanctioned government interest;
WHEREAS, protecting New York State from inadvertently financing discrimination against LGBT persons is a compelling state sanctioned government interest;
WHEREAS, the state of Mississippi has enacted legislation which explicitly permits and enshrines in law discrimination against LGBT citizens and unmarried individuals;
WHEREAS, in a free society the equal rights of all citizens, including LGBT citizens, must be protected and cherished;
WHEREAS, in a free society the will of the many cannot be the basis for discrimination against the few;
WHEREAS, it is the policy of the state of New York to promote fairness, protect the welfare of the citizens of the state of New York, and combat discrimination;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, ANDREW M. CUOMO, Governor of the State of New York, by virtue of the power and authority vested in me by my office, the New York State Constitution, and the Statutes of the state of New York, do hereby ORDER AND DIRECT:
• All agencies, departments, boards, authorities and commissions to review all requests for state funded or state sponsored travel to the state of Mississippi so long as there is law in effect there that permits and enshrines discrimination against LGBT citizens and unmarried individuals; and
• To bar any such publicly funded or publicly sponsored travel to such location, unless such travel is necessary for the enforcement of New York State law, to meet prior contractual obligations, or for the protection of public health, welfare, and safety.
New York State’s ban on publicly funded travel shall take effect immediately and shall continue until such law is repealed.
| (L.S.) | GIVEN under my hand and the Privy Seal of the State in the City of Albany this fifth day of April in the year two thousand sixteen. |
| | |
| BY THE GOVERNOR |
| /S/ Andrew M. Cuomo |
| /s/ William J. Mulrow |
| Secretary to the Governor |
