(The Center Square) — New York voters have approved a controversial proposal to amend the state constitution to protect “gender identity,” despite claims from critics who say it will block parents of transgender kids from approving medical decisions and allow biological males to play in women’s sports. Proposition 1 will codify abortion rights in the state constitution and expand protections against discrimination based on race, religion and gender. With about 30% of the votes counted in New York, the measure was ahead by 72% to 28% when the Associated Press called it shortly after 9:30 p.m. T…