Coalition to Protect Kids NY, since 2024 the Coalition to Protect Kids Policy Group, was originally formed as a New York ballot committee to oppose New York Proposal 1, the Equal Protection of Law Amendment present on the New York state ballot in the November 2024 elections to amend the Equal Protection Clause of the New York Constitution. The measure was approved and amended the New York Constitution to prohibit discrimination based on gender identity, sexual orientation, and reproductive health decisions.  ¹

After the passage of New York Proposal 1, the Coalition to Protect Kids NY established itself as the Coalition to Protect Kids Policy Group, a 501(c)(4) policy reform and public action nonprofit organization. ²

Activities

The Coalition to Protect Kids NY was originally formed as a New York ballot committee to oppose New York Proposal 1, the Equal Protection of Law Amendment present on the New York state ballot in the November 2024 elections. The proposal would amend the Equal Protection Clause of the New York Constitution to include language that prohibits discrimination based on gender identity, sexual orientation, and reproductive health decisions.  ¹

The Coalition to Protect Kids NY referred to Proposal 1 as the “Parent Replacement Act,” and claimed expanded protections for minors in areas of gender identity, sexual orientation, and reproductive health decisions could undermine parental rights. The Coalition to Protect Kids NY further claimed that these constitutional protections would constitute overreach, allowing minors to make serious life decisions without parental consent. ³

New York Proposal 1

New York Proposal 1, the Equal Protection of Law Amendment, was a legislatively referred constitutional amendment on the ballot in New York on November 5, 2024. Support for the proposal was led by New Yorkers for Equal Rights, which claimed the amendment would expand protections for abortion access and gender identity in state law. New Yorkers for Equal Rights raised over $7 million in support of the proposal. Other supporters of New York Proposal 1 included New York Governor Kathy Hochul (D), U.S. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), and New York Attorney General Letitia James (D). Supporting organizations included the National Institute for Reproductive Health, the New York Civil Liberties Union, the New York Immigration Coalition, and the Planned Parenthood Action Fund. ¹

New York Proposal 1 was approved by a vote of 62.47 percent and amended the Equal Protection Clause of the New York Constitution to include expanded language that prohibits discrimination based on ethnicity, national origin, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, and reproductive health decisions.  ¹

Funding

The Coalition to Protect Kids NY was primarily funded by donations from individuals. The largest individual donor was Carol Crossed, the co-founder of Feminists Choosing Life of New York. ^{4  5}

The Coalition to Protect Kids NY received more than $5,000 from the Coalition to Protect Kids Policy Group, its 501(c)(4) affiliated nonprofit organization.  ⁴

In total, the Coalition to Protect Kids NY raised over $570,000.  ¹

People

Dennis Hannon is the executive director of the Coalition to Protect Kids Policy Group, the 501(c)(4) affiliated nonprofit organization of the Coalition to Protect Kids NY ballot committee. Hannon is an advocate for ending gender-affirming care for minors. In 2024, Hannon lost custody of his child because he objected to the child’s gender transition, which occurred while in the child’s mother’s care. ⁶

Donor Organizations

Ackrye LLC (for profit)

Century Mold Co. Inc. (for profit)

Coalition to Protect Kids Policy Group (nonprofit)

Faber Builders Inc. (for profit)

Human Life Inc. (nonprofit)

Light of Truth Inc. (nonprofit)

My Father’s House Ministries (nonprofit)

St. Paul’s Lutheran Church (West Falls, NY) (nonprofit)

1. “New York Proposal 1, Equal Protection of Law Amendment (2024).” Ballotpedia. Accessed November 23, 2025. https://ballotpedia.org/New_York_Proposal_1,_Equal_Protection_of_Law_Amendment_(2024)#cite_note-9.
2. “Gallery.” Coalition to Protect Kids NY. Accessed November 23, 2025. https://www.protectkidsny.com/gallery.
3. “FAQ’s.” Coalition to Protect Kids NY. Accessed November 23, 2025. https://www.protectkidsny.com/home.
4. “Candidate/Committee Disclosures Search: Coalition to Protect Kids – NY – 382375.” New York State Board of Elections. Accessed November 23, 2025. https://publicreporting.elections.ny.gov/CandidateCommitteeDisclosure/CandidateCommitteeDisclosure.
5. “Carol Crossed.” LinkedIn. Accessed November 23, 2025. https://www.linkedin.com/in/carol-crossed-0284311b/.
6. Walker, Jackson. “’Framed as a bigot’: NY father loses custody of son after questioning gender transition.” CBS 4 News, February 5, 2024. Accessed November 23, 2025. https://cbs4local.com/news/nation-world/framed-as-a-bigot-ny-father-loses-custody-of-son-after-questioning-gender-transition-software-engineer-dennis-hannon-32-told-the-national-desk-tnd-monday-the-erie-county-supreme-court-upstate-new-york-transgender-lgbtq-rights-trans.