From Two Categories to Thirty-One: How NYC Redefined Gender in Law

Posted byEd KowalskiPosted inUncategorized

There was a time—not long ago—when sex was understood in law and daily life as binary: male and female. That clarity no longer exists, at least not in New York City.

In 2019, under Mayor Bill de Blasio, the New York City Commission on Human Rights released official guidance recognizing 31 distinct gender identities, all protected under the city’s anti-discrimination laws. Businesses were put on notice: failure to recognize or properly address someone by their self-identified gender or preferred pronouns could result in fines of up to $250,000.

The Commission framed the policy as a matter of dignity and respect. In its own words, New York City law prohibits discrimination based on “gender identity and gender expression” in employment, housing, and public accommodations. Gender identity, the Commission explained, is an individual’s “internal, deeply-held sense” of being male, female, or “something else entirely.”

To guide compliance, the city published an official list of 31 gender identity terms, including:

Bi-Gendered Cross-Dresser Drag-King Drag-Queen Femme Queen Female-to-Male FTM Gender Bender Genderqueer Male-to-Female MTF Non-Op Hijra Pangender Transsexual / Transexual Trans Person Woman Man Butch Two-Spirit Trans Agender Third Sex Gender Fluid Non-Binary Transgender Androgyne Gender-Gifted Femme Person of Transgender Experience Androgynous Gender Bender

Unlike traditional sex-based classifications, these identities require no documentation, medical transition, or legal verification. Individuals may access bathrooms or locker rooms based solely on self-identification. When uncertainty arises, the Commission advises: ask politely, apologize if you make a mistake, and move on.

This is not merely a cultural shift—it is a legal mandate, enforced with significant penalties. What was once a private matter of self-understanding has become a regulated public obligation, with compliance expected from employers, landlords, educators, and ordinary citizens alike.

I understand the stated goal: preventing harassment and discrimination. But I also recognize the unease this creates for many people who feel the ground beneath shared language, norms, and legal clarity has shifted faster than public consensus.

I’m not claiming malice.

I’m not denying anyone’s humanity.

But I am acknowledging something simpler—and harder to dismiss:

I am officially living in a world I no longer recognize.

Published by Ed Kowalski

Ed Kowalski is a Pleasant Valley resident, media voice, and policy-focused professional whose work sits at the intersection of law, public policy, and community life. Ed has spent his career working in senior leadership roles across human resources, compliance, and operations, helping organizations navigate complex legal and regulatory environments. His work has focused on accountability, risk management, workforce issues, and translating policy and law into practical outcomes that affect people’s jobs, livelihoods, and communities. Ed is also a familiar voice in the Hudson Valley media landscape. He most recently served as the morning host of Hudson Valley This Morning on WKIP and is currently a frequent contributor to Hudson Valley Focus with Tom Sipos on Pamal Broadcasting. In addition, Ed is the creator of The Valley Viewpoint, a commentary and narrative platform focused on law, justice, government accountability, and the real-world impact of public policy. Across broadcast and written media, Ed’s work emphasizes transparency, access to justice, institutional integrity, and public trust. Ed is a graduate of Xavier High School, Fordham University, and Georgetown University, holding a Certificate in Business Leadership from Georgetown. His Jesuit education shaped his belief that ideas carry obligations—and that leadership requires both discipline and moral clarity. He lives in Pleasant Valley.

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