The New York State Legislature for the first time granted civil rights to transgender New Yorkers. And on a busy day at the State Capitol, Gov. Andrew Cuomo also released his $175 billion budget plan.

Senate sponsor Brad Hoylman got a bit emotional on the Senate floor when he spoke about the provisions of a measure that will add “gender identity” and “gender expression” as a protected class in the state’s human rights laws, outlawing discrimination in employment and housing.

It's Dialogue on Disability Week and we kick off our series of conversations on Connections with a discussion about inclusive recreation activities.

The film “Perfectly Normal for Me” tells the story of three children with disabilities as they prepare for a spring recital as part of their after school dance program. We preview the film and talk with local parents, teachers, and education coordinators about finding a balance between independence and structure for children with special needs, and what inclusion really means. In studio:

• Erin Davis, special education autism teacher at CP Rochester’s Augustin Children's Center
• Michael Radell, education coordinator and camp director at Epilepsy-Pralid, Inc.
• Rachel Rosner, director of education and support services at AutismUp, and parent of two children with autism
  

The new Congress is considering measures related to the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement. The Palestinian-led campaign promotes forms of boycott against Israel with the goal of what it describes as ending Israeli violations of international law.

Our guests explain the debate over BDS and its potential impact. In studio:

• Iman Abid, chapter director for the Genesee Valley Region of the ACLU
• Larry Fine, former longtime CEO of the Jewish Federation of Greater Rochester
  

Two important pieces of legislation for LGBTQ+ New Yorkers passed Tuesday in the state Senate.

GENDA, or the Gender Expression Non Discrimination Act,  has officially passed and will increase protections for transgender and gender non-conforming New York citizens.

Tamara Leigh, communications director at the Out Alliance, said that up until now, there was no New York state law that explicitly protected this group of people from harassment and discrimination in areas like employment and housing.