ALBANY — Legislation repealing a long-criticized loitering law advocates say is used by police to harass and target transgender people is finally moving forward. Senate Democrats will bring a bill striking down New York’s law related to loitering for the purpose of prostitution, also known as the “walking while trans” law, to the committee next week.

It’s the first time the measure will advance in the upper chamber, and both the Senate and Assembly are slated to pass the long-stalled legislation the following week, the Daily News learned Thursday.

“The Senate under my leadership has made it clear we stand for equality and justice,” Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins (D-Yonkers) told The News. “For too long this loitering statute has been used to target LGBTQ people, communities of color and victims of sex trafficking. The Senate will be repealing this law.”

Advocates, who have been calling on Dems to approve the repeal since they took control of the Senate in 2019, say the current law has resulted in widespread police profiling, unjustified arrests and harassment for many in LGBT, immigrant as well as Black and Latino communities. The change could help end discriminatory enforcement that often targets women from marginalized groups who are at high risk for sex trafficking and other exploitation and abuse, advocates said. Read more via NY Daily News