Home - Equality California

EQCA Condemns Lawsuit to Force Governor, AG to Defend Prop. 8
The Pacific Justice Institute, a conservative legal organization, has petitioned the 3rd District Court of Appeal in Sacramento to force Governor Schwarzenegger and Attorney General Jerry Brown to defend Proposition 8. Both have publicly stated that they will not appeal Judge Vaughn Walker’s ruling that deemed the discriminatory marriage ban unconstitutional.
Read more >

Bill Increasing Access to Mental Health Services for Youth heads to Gov.
The State Assembly yesterday passed the Mental Health Services for At-Risk Youth Act (SB 543) in a 49-28 vote. If signed by the governor, the bill will expand access to essential mental health services for youth ages 12-17 by allowing them to obtain counseling without parental consent. SB 543, which was approved by the State Senate last year, was introduced by Senator Mark Leno (D-San Francisco) and is co-sponsored by Equality California, the National Association of Social Workers California Chapter, Mental Health America of Northern California, and the GSA network.
Read more >

Senate Calls for Help to Stop Uganda’s Bill Criminalizing LGBT People
"The U.S. government must do everything in its power to stop the bill before the Uganda legislature that would lead to the criminalization and even death of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Ugandans. The California Senate has taken an important step in passing this resolution, which will help raise awareness of the crisis in Uganda and will put the state on record in support of the U.S. government strengthening its efforts to end the criminalization of LGBT people worldwide." -Geoff Kors, executive director of Equality California.
Read more >

California Calls for Change to Outdated Blood Donor Policy
Sacramento - The State Senate today approved the U.S. Blood Donor Nondiscrimination Resolution (AJR 13) with a bipartisan vote of 22-8. The resolution calls on the Federal Drug Administration to repeal its outdated and scientifically unnecessary rule prohibiting healthy gay and bisexual men from donating blood. AJR 13, sponsored by Equality California and introduced by Assemblymember Tom Ammiano (D-San Francisco), puts the State of California on record in support of updating rules for blood donation, which would increase the number of life-saving blood donations with no increase in risk of disease.
Read more >

California Legislature Passes Bill Protecting LGBT Prisoners
Sacramento – The California State Senate today passed the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Prisoner Safety Act, AB 633, in a 26-9 vote. Sponsored by Equality California and introduced by Assemblymember Tom Ammiano (D-San Francisco), the bill is designed to prevent violence against LGBT people in the state prison system.
Read more >