New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo confirmed his support for the LGBTQ community Friday morning when he signed bills into law banning anti-transgender discrimination and conversion therapy for minors. The state Senate and Assembly had passed both bills January 15.

The Gender Expression Non-Discrimination Act (GENDA) bans discrimination against transgender and non-binary New Yorkers, ensuring their basic rights will be protected under state law. This bill adds gender identity and gender expression to an existing law banning discrimination based on gender, age, religion, race, or sexual orientation.

"This, my friends, is New York at its best," Cuomo said to supporters during a signing ceremony held at New York City's LGBT Community Center, NY1 reports.

Pose star Dominique Jackson was among those who spoke at the ceremony, praising the advocacy efforts of Gov. Cuomo and trans activists.

"What you are doing here is setting an example for other states and this federal government to follow," Jackson said. "Today the administration in Washington is doing everything it can to take this nation backwards and trample on the rights of the LGBTQIA+ community. It is un-American, and it is frightening, but we are resilient. In these dark times, we look to states like New York to lead the way."

"You made it okay for someone like me, for someone like my sisters and my brothers, to be able to be in New York City, in New York state, and have the surgeries that we need, that make us stand up and be proud and be who we are," the trans actor continued.

"To each and every one of you out here, we're not asking you to do anything other than respect us. Don't tell me about tolerance. Don't tell me about acceptance. Look at me as the woman that I am and respect that."

Olympic medalist Adam Rippon, who was in town for the RuPaul's Drag Race season 11 cast reveal, and Pose star Indya Moore were also in attendance.

For more than a decade, Democrats in the state legislature have tried to pass GENDA, a trans-inclusive addendum to the 2002 Sexual Orientation Non-Discrimination Act protecting gay, lesbian, and bisexual New Yorkers. With Republicans controlling the Senate until recently, the bill failed to make it to the governor's desk, leaving trans and gender non-conforming New Yorkers technically unprotected from gender-based discrimination under state law. With Democrats regaining control of the Senate—and with the Senate, the Assembly—long-stalled bills like GENDA are now moving forward.

According to the Movement Advancement Project, New York is now the 21st state to include gender identity as a protected class in its statewide hate crimes law.

In a previous statement, Glennda Testone, executive director of the LGBT Community Center, thanked trans and gender non-conforming advocates and allies for "more than a decade of dedicated activism, bravery, and persistence" in urging lawmakers to pass GENDA: "By adding gender identity and expression as a protected class under the Human Rights Law, GENDA provides [trans and gender non-conforming] people with protection against harassment and discrimination in employment, housing, and public spaces like restaurants and shops."

With Gov. Cuomo's signature, New York has also become the 15th state to ban conversion therapy for minors, prohibiting mental health care providers from trying to change their sexual orientation or gender identity.

Focusing on gay and trans performers in New York City’s 1980s ballroom scene, Pose has made history with the most trans series regulars ever in an American scripted TV series. Ryan Murphy, who created Pose in collaboration with producers Brad Falchuk and Steven Canals, has committed to donating 100% of his profits from the groundbreaking FX series to various LGBTQ charities.

Pose has been renewed for a second season and will return later this year.

Watch more of Friday's signing ceremony at NY1.