New York Governor Andrew Cuomo signed a bill on Friday that will extend protection against discrimination to transgender New Yorkers, as well as banning conversion therapy on children.

The measure, which was signed at the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Center in Manhattan, will add gender expression and identity as protected clauses in the state's human rights and hate crime laws.

Legislation was also signed to prohibit conversion therapy being used on minors to change their sexual orientation.

Before signing the GENDA bill and conversion ban, Cuomo took a moment to denounce the Supreme Court's decision to uphold the Trump administration's ban of Transgender Americans serving in the military last week.

'The Supreme Court says you can discriminate against transgender in the military,' he said.

'We say today no you can't. You can't discriminate against people by gender identity, period.'

Gov. Andrew Cuomo (middle) signed a bill on Friday extending protections for transgender and non-gender conforming New Yorkers, under the GENDA bill

The bill will add gender expression and identity as protected clauses in the state's human rights and hate crime laws, as well as banning conversion therapy among children

Both of the bills were passed last week, after being blocked for several years by Republicans in the Senate.

Democrats took control of the chamber in November and the two bills were among the first passed.

'This, my friends, is New York at is best,' Cuomo said as he prepared to sign the measure.

He went on to describe the moment as an 'emotional day'.

The bill had been blocked for several years by Republicans in the Senate. However, the bills come as some of the first passed since Democrats took control in November

The measure was signed at the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Center in Manhattan, on January 25

Cuomo (middle) called the moment an 'emotional day'

With the bills' signing, New York has become the 15th state to prohibit the practice of conversion.

Believing it to be harmful to young people, the practice has been widely condemned by leading psychiatric and psychological associations.

'These laws will literally save lives, and their passage would not have been possible without the tireless work of advocates and allies across New York over the last decade,' said Chad Griffin, president of the Human Rights Campaign.

The new laws aim to prevent discrimination against transgender New Yorkers.

A US Transgender Survey found 30 percent of transgender or non-conformed Americans were denied a promotion, harassed or fired from their jobs because of their gender identity.

In a survey, 30% of transgender Americans said they'd experienced workplace discrimination

Gov. Cuomo denounced the Supreme Court's decision to uphold the Trump administration's ban on transgender military members

250,000 of the respondents said they also faced discrimination when trying to secure housing.

'Legal protection from violence and discrimination is part of building an inclusive society where everybody can thrive, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity,' Sam Brinton, head of advocacy and government affairs for The Trevor Project, said.

In 2011, New York became the first state to legalize same-sex marriage during Cuomo's first year in office.