New York State recently joined a handful of other states by enacting legislation prohibiting discrimination against victims of domestic violence. On July 7, 2009, New York Governor David A. Paterson signed into law an amendment to the New York Human Rights Law to include an individual's status as a "victim of domestic violence" in the list of characteristics protected from discrimination. Other protected characteristics include age, race, creed, color, national origin, sexual orientation, military status, sex, disability, predisposing genetic characteristics, and marital status. The new provision is similar to a provision in the New York City Administrative Code, which was amended in 2001 to prohibit discrimination against victims of domestic violence.

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