by RON BUCKMIRE

	Twenty-two years after a gay rights bill was first introduced into the
New York State Assembly, New York has finally taken the first step towards
extending civil rights protections towards lesbians and gay men. Assembly Bill
1336 would prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation
in credit, housing, employment, public accomodations and education. It passed
the lower house 90-50. However the bill is likely to have more difficulty 
passing the State Senate.