SACRAMENTO, Calif. — In Equality California’s 20th anniversary year, the nation’s largest statewide LGBTQ civil rights organization has introduced its most aggressive, robust package of pro-equality legislation yet. The organization’s priorities include a number of first-in-the-nation bills and are primarily focused on supporting LGBTQ youth and families, increasing access to HIV prevention medication and protecting the civil rights of transgender and intersex Californians.
Equality California is sponsoring the following 2019 bills and resolutions in the California Legislature and has experts available for comment or background briefings:
Safe and Supportive Schools Act – AB 493 by Assemblymember Todd Gloria and State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond
Status: Passed by the Assembly Education Committee 5-0. Referred to the Assembly Committee on Appropriations.
LGBTQ Young People Nondiscrimination – SB 145 by Senator Scott Wiener and LA County District Attorney Jackie Lacey
Status: Referred to the Senate Public Safety Committee. Scheduled for hearing on Tuesday, April 9.
PrEP and PEP Access Expansion – SB 159 by Senator Scott Wiener and Assemblymember Todd Gloria
Status: Referred to the Senate Committee on Business, Professions, and Economic Development.
Intersex Autonomy – SB 201 by Senator Scott Wiener
Status: Testimony heard by Senate Committee on Business, Professions, and Economic Development on Monday, April 1. Scheduled for vote on Monday, April 8.
Homeless Youth Grant Program – AB 307 by Assemblymember Eloise Gómez Reyes and Senator Scott Wiener
Status: Passed by the Assembly Human Services Committee 8-0. Referred to the Assembly Committee on Appropriations.
Affirming Records – SB 741 by Senator Cathleen Galgiani
Status: Referred to Senate Rules Committee.
Bias-Free Child Custody Determinations – SB 495 by Senator Maria Elena Durazo
SB 495 will add language to the California Family Code to prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity of a parent, legal guardian or relative when granting custody of a child. While there are examples of California case law to the effect that “sexual preference” should not affect child custody determinations, this language is outdated, unclear, and has not been codified within the California Family Code. This lack of clear and comprehensive policy allows local Family Court mediators, investigators, and judges to make recommendations and rulings based on their own biases about how sexuality and gender may impact the “well-being of the child.” All parents deserve the right to be considered in matters of custody without their sexual orientation or gender identity being used against them. Equality California is cosponsoring SB 495 with the Women’s Policy Institute and the Long Beach Bar Association. Status: Passed by Senate Judiciary Committee.
Updating Transgender Students’ Academic Records – AB 711 by Assemblymember David Chiu
Status: Referred to the Assembly Committee on Education
Strengthening California’s Equal Pay Act – AB 758 by Assemblymember Wendy Carrillo
Status: Referred to Assembly Committee on Labor & Employment.
Transgender Respect, Agency, and Dignity Act – SB 132 by Senator Scott Wiener
Status: Referred to Senate Committee on Public Safety. Scheduled for hearing on Tuesday, April 23.
Honoring Bayard Rustin – ACR 27 by Assemblymember Wendy Carrillo
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Equality California is the nation’s largest statewide LGBTQ civil rights organization. We bring the voices of LGBTQ people and allies to institutions of power in California and across the United States, striving to create a world that is healthy, just, and fully equal for all LGBTQ people. We advance civil rights and social justice by inspiring, advocating and mobilizing through an inclusive movement that works tirelessly on behalf of those we serve. www.eqca.org