A Message from EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TONY HOANG
Friends and partners,
Last year, we witnessed an onslaught of attacks from far-right extremists seeking to undermine and eliminate hard-won civil rights protections for LGBTQ+ Californians. A coalition of so-called “parents’ rights” groups attempted to qualify an anti-transgender ballot initiative to ban essential healthcare for transgender youth, forcibly out transgender students without their consent, and ban transgender youth from accessing school facilities or playing sports consistent with their gender identity. Anti-equality lawmakers introduced legislation to ban books with LGBTQ+ content from school libraries and prevent transgender youth from accessing medically necessary care. And a number of local school boards continued their dangerous crusade to implement harmful policies targeting LGBTQ+ youth.
With your support, however, we were successful in not only defeating these efforts but also in continuing to pass cuttingedge legislation to protect the safety and wellbeing of LGBTQ+ Californians. In 2024, Governor Gavin Newsom signed 7 Equality California-sponsored bills into law, including legislation to improve campus climate for LGBTQ+ students in higher education, enhance LGBTQ+ data collection efforts, protect and improve access to PrEP for HIV prevention, and create a more inclusive emergency preparedness and response program.
In 2024, California also became the first state in the nation to ban dangerous “forced outing” policies with the passage of AB 1955, the SAFETY Act, by Asm. Chris Ward and the Legislative LGBTQ Caucus. The SAFETY Act prohibits school districts from adopting forced outing policies and guarantees that LGBTQ+ youth across California can have these important family conversations on their own terms and in ways that strengthen the relationship between parent and child. In a major win for LGBTQ+ families, Governor Newsom signed SB 729 by Sen. Caroline Menjivar to expand health insurance coverage for fertility services, including IVF, to roughly 10 million Californians. The new law includes a more inclusive definition of ‘infertility’ to ensure that LGBTQ+ individuals have equitable access to these services.
At the ballot box, California voters overwhelmingly voted Yes on Proposition 3 to enshrine marriage equality in California’s constitution and repeal the outdated, discriminatory language from Proposition 8. We are extremely grateful to all those who voted to reaffirm the freedom to marry and protect loving couples and families across California who deserve to have their marriages protected and respected under the law. Our thanks also to former Asm. Evan Low, Sen. Scott Wiener, and the Legislative LGBTQ Caucus, who provided strong leadership from the outset, and to all our legislative and community partners and allies who came together to help safeguard marriage equality for all Californians.
Looking ahead, we know LGBTQ+ people—especially transgender people and their families—are facing unprecedented challenges with the reelection of Donald Trump. During the first weeks of his presidency alone, the Trump administration
issued multiple executive orders seeking to ban essential healthcare for transgender youth, prohibit transgender people from playing sports, ban transgender people from serving in the military, criminalize teachers for supporting transgender students, and erase transgender people across the federal government. Instead of focusing on lowering the costs of groceries and healthcare, the Trump administration is resorting to the same hateful anti-LGBTQ+ attacks that we saw on the campaign trail.
Thankfully, over the past several years, California has enacted some of the strongest laws in the nation to help protect LGBTQ+ people and their families from the damaging effects of a second Trump administration. We are grateful to have a strong ally in Attorney General Bonta who is prepared to defend these laws in court and safeguard the rights of LGBTQ+ Californians. Equality California continues to advance a bold legislative agenda, working closely with the Legislative LGBTQ Caucus, legislative allies, and partner organizations to strengthen protections and ensure that California remains a safe haven for LGBTQ+ people, especially transgender youth and their families, across the country.
Make no mistake — no matter who occupies the White House — we remain committed to fighting for our families, our freedoms, and our future. We will use every tool at our disposal to protect LGBTQ+ people from harassment and discrimination, create a safe and inclusive learning environment for LGBTQ+ students, and ensure that transgender people can access the essential health care they need. Equality California stands strong and determined to fight for the future all LGBTQ+ people in this country deserve. Together, we will continue to march toward freedom and dignity for all.
Until the work is done,
Tony Hoang Executive Director
Tony Hoang, Executive Director, Equality California
Thank you, LEGISLATIVE LGBTQ CAUCUS
As one of the nation’s largest and most diverse caucuses of openly LGBTQ+ state legislators, the California Legislative LGBTQ Caucus has continued setting the bar for advancing full, lived equality for LGBTQ+ people — and paving the way for other states to follow.
In 2024, under the leadership of Chair Sen. Susan Eggman and Vice Chair Asm. Chris Ward, the LGBTQ Caucus championed many of Equality California’s legislative priorities, including the SAFETY Act and bills to support LGBTQ+ students in higher education and expand access to fertility services. Additionally, during Sen. Eggman’s time as Chair, the LGBTQ Caucus was successful in securing over $171 million in state funds to go directly to LGBTQ+ organizations and projects across the state.
Equality California is extremely grateful to all of the LGBTQ Caucus members and their staff — especially outgoing members Sen. Toni Atkins, Sen. Susan Eggman, and Asm. Evan Low — for their tireless efforts to advance nation-leading protections and investments for LGBTQ+ Californians. We are also incredibly grateful to the LGBTQ Caucus consultants, Jacob Fraker and Natalia Garcia, and to Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara for his ongoing leadership to advance critical health care protections for LGBTQ+ Californians.
Last year, California’s LGBTQ Caucus reached a new historic milestone with LGBTQ+ representatives now making up 12% of the legislature, making California the top state in the nation for LGBTQ+ representation. The expansion of the LGBTQ Caucus comes at a critical time for our community as the Trump Administration launches attacks on LGBTQ+ civil rights, health care, education, and more. With a growing LGBTQ Caucus, the California Legislature is now more prepared than ever to advance legislation to safeguard the hard-fought gains of LGBTQ+ Californians and their families.
We look forward to continuing our longstanding partnership with the LGBTQ Caucus under the leadership of Chair Asm. Chris Ward and Vice Chair Sen. Caroline Menjivar. We will continue our strong collaboration with them to defeat attacks from anti-LGBTQ+ extremists, enact a robust pro-equality legislative package, secure new investments to support LGBTQ+ Californians, and build the bench for the next generation of LGBTQ+ leaders.
Priority Legislation
Working closely with members of the Legislative LGBTQ Caucus and other pro-equality legislators in 2024, Equality California sponsored 12 bills, 6 of which were signed into law by Governor Gavin Newsom. Also in January 2024, Governor Newsom signed an Equality California-sponsored bill from 2023 — SB 339 by Sen. Scott Wiener — that had been paused prior to being taken up for final votes in the Assembly and Senate.
In developing our 2024 legislative package, we worked closely with our legislative champions, partner organizations, and community members to identify the most pressing issues facing the LGBTQ+ community in California. Our sponsored legislation took on a range of issues that will help to advance the health and wellbeing of LGBTQ+ Californians and the diverse communities to which we belong.
In addition to our sponsored bills, Equality California supported more than 40 bills addressing a variety of issues impacting LGBTQ+ people across the Golden State. This includes bills related to foster youth, sexual health and HIV prevention education, reproductive rights, suicide prevention, maternal health, paid family leave, domestic violence, mental health and substance use, housing, hate crimes, gun violence, implicit bias in health care, and racial justice.
“Equality California’s indispensable partnership ensured SB 729, expanding coverage for infertility care and ending the legal discrimination against LGBTQ+ folks, made it across the finish line to become California law. This monumental victory has opened up the opportunity for family building to millions of Californians under large group health plans, expanded access to in vitro fertilization, and ended the archaic law that excluded LGBTQ+ and unpartnered folks from coverage.” –Sen. Caroline Menjivar
Sponsored Bills
Extend Paid Family Leave to Chosen Family
AB 518 by Assemblymember Buffy Wicks (D-Oakland)
Provides critical protections for LGBTQ+ and other workers who need to take time off work to care for a loved one with a serious illness by allowing them to receive Paid Family Leave benefits when caring for their seriously ill chosen or extended family members.
Status: Held to allow more time for discussions with relevant stakeholders regarding the bill’s minimal fiscal impact.
Establish Unicorn Homes Pilot Program
AB 2007 by Assemblymember Tasha Boerner (D-Encinitas)
Establishes a 3-year pilot program – the Unicorn Homes Transitional Housing for Homeless LGBTQ+ Youth Program –to place unhoused LGBTQ+ youth with affirming volunteer host families and provide trauma-informed crisis intervention care.
Status: Held in the Assembly Appropriations Committee
Protect Access to Preventive Care
AB 2258 by Assemblymember Rick Chavez Zbur (D-Los Angeles)
Codifies longstanding federal guidance requiring health plans to cover services that are integral to recommended preventive care – including HIV and STI screenings for PrEP and cervical cancer screenings – without requiring patients to pay out-of-pocket.
Status: Signed by Governor Newsom
Expedite Licensure for Gender-Affirming Care Providers
AB 2442 by Assemblymember Rick Chavez Zbur (D-Los Angeles)
Require the expedited processing of licensure applications for health care providers committed to providing gender-affirming health care or gender-affirming mental health care to ensure a robust network of trained providers and timely access to care for both in-state and out-of-state patients.
Status: Vetoed by Governor Newsom
Establish LGBTQ+ Commission
AB 3031 by Assemblymember Lee (D-San Jose) and Assemblymember Low (D-Silicon Valley)
Establishes a statewide LGBTQ+ Commission to advise the Governor and Legislature on legislation and policy impacting members of the LGBTQ+ community and assist lawmakers in implementing supportive policies and initiatives.
Status: Vetoed by Governor Newsom
Improve Pharmacist Delivered PrEP
SB 339 by Senator Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco)
Improves the ability of pharmacists to provide PrEP without a doctor’s prescription by increasing the amount of PrEP that pharmacists are authorized to provide and requiring health plans to reimburse pharmacists for providing PrEP.
Status: Signed by Governor Newsom
Provide Equitable Fertility Coverage
SB 729 by Senator Caroline Menjivar (D-San Fernando Valley)
Advances reproductive freedom in California by requiring large group health plans to provide coverage for fertility and infertility care, including IVF, and updating the definition of infertility to be inclusive of LGBTQ+ family planning experiences.
Status: Signed by Governor Newsom
Enhance SOGI Data Collection
SB 957 by Senator Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco)
Enacts recommendations from last year’s state audit to close loopholes in existing law and ensure that the California Department of Public Health is collecting complete data on sexual orientation, gender identity, and variations in sex characteristics/intersex status (SOGISC) to improve LGBTQ+ health outcomes.
Status: Signed by Governor Newsom
Create TGI Resources Website
SB 959 by Senator Caroline Menjivar (D-San Fernando Valley)
Creates an online resource for transgender, gender non-conforming, and intersex (TGI) Californians and their families to combat misinformation and provide accurate information about access to trans-inclusive health care, existing legal protections for patients and providers, and other available support services.
Status: Held after the California Department of Managed Health Care launched a website in line with the bill’s requirements.
LGBTQ+ Disaster Preparedness
SB 990 by Senator Steve Padilla (D-San Diego)
Requires California to update the State Emergency Plan to include LGBTQ+ inclusive policies and best practices to ensure that LGBTQ+ people can access affirming services and resources before, during, and after an emergency or natural disaster.
Status: Signed by Governor Newsom
Strengthen Civil Rights Enforcement
SB 1022 by Senator Nancy Skinner (D-Berkeley)
Enables the Civil Rights Department to more effectively investigate and prosecute long-running civil rights violations affecting groups or classes of people by making technical changes to the Fair Employment and Housing Act
Status: Vetoed by Governor Newsom
Improve HIV Data Sharing
SB 1333 by Senator Susan Eggman (D-Stockton)
Allows confidential data sharing for HIV and other reportable diseases to ensure that public health officials and health care providers can more effectively respond during public health emergencies and improve care coordination for people living with HIV.
Status: Signed by Governor Newsom
Equity in Higher Education
SB 1491 by Senator Susan Eggman (D-Stockton)
Requires public colleges and universities to adopt and publish policies on harassment and designate a confidential employee to address the needs of LGBTQ+ students and staff. The bill also requires the Student Aid Commission to notify students if a college or university claims a religious exemption to state or federal non-discrimination protections.
Status: Signed by Governor Newsom
“With the growing national attack against members of our community, especially targeting our TGI siblings, it is ever more vital that we remain steadfast in our protection and support for the lives and futures of our community members. In our continued advocacy to strengthen the health and well-being of all, Equality California remains a great partner to our Legislative LGBTQ Caucus. As I step into my new role as Chair, I look forward to continuing our work to enhance our safeguards and preserve our protections for LGBTQ+ community members across our nation.”
–Asm. Chris Ward
Scored Priority Bills
California Freedom to Read Act
AB 1825 by Assemblymember Al Muratsuchi (D-Torrance)
Prohibits public libraries from banning books based on partisan or political reasons, viewpoint discrimination, gender, sexual identity, religion, disability, or on the basis that the books contain inclusive and diverse perspectives.
Status: Signed by Governor Newsom
The SAFETY Act
AB 1955 by Assemblymember Chris Ward (D-San Diego) and the Legislative LGBTQ Caucus
Strengthens existing law against school policies that forcibly out LGBTQ+ students, provides critical resources to parents and families of LGBTQ+ students as they work towards acceptance on their own terms, and protects educators who face retaliatory actions from administrators and school boards for creating inclusive school environments.
Status: Signed by Governor Newsom
Doxing Victims Recourse Act
AB 1979 by Assemblymember Chris Ward (D-San Diego)
Provides a mode of recourse for victims who have been harmed as a result of being doxed, which occurs when someone releases another individual’s private, personally identifying information without their consent to cause that person harm.
Status: Signed by Governor Newsom
Methodology
In the scorecard that follows, the analysis of votes is based primarily on the final floor votes cast on the measures. “Yes” votes on scored legislation are represented by “+” and “no” votes are represented by “-.”.
Legislators who are present but not voting are denoted by an “A” for “abstaining,” which is scored as equivalent to a “no” vote on scored legislation. Passage of legislation typically requires a “yes” vote by the majority of all legislators, so failing to cast a vote has the same effect as a “no” vote.
Legislators who were officially absent for a vote did not have that vote factored into their rating and are denoted on the scorecard with an “E” for “excused.” Missed votes on scored legislation may be excused if the legislator was a co-author, voted to support the legislation at a previous floor vote or in committee, or was absent from the floor on official business.
The overall score reflects legislators’ votes on Equality California-sponsored and priority legislation. Members of the Legislative LGBTQ Caucus are denoted with an “*” and authors of sponsored and priority legislation are denoted with a “+” next to their names.
Please note:
AB 518 (Wicks) is not scored because the bill was paused prior to being taken up for final floor votes in the Assembly and Senate.
AB 2007 (Boerner) is not scored because the bill was held in the Assembly Appropriations Committee.
SB 959 (Menjivar) is not scored because the bill was paused prior to being taken up for final floor votes in the Assembly and Senate.
Former Assemblymember Vince Fong is not scored because he was elected to serve in the United States House of Representatives on May 21, 2024.
(Ward)
(Ward)
(Zbur)
(Zbur)
Members Party District
AB 1825 (Muratsuchi)
AB 1955 (Ward) AB 1979 (Ward) AB 2258 (Zbur) AB 2442 (Zbur) AB 3031 (Lee & Low)
SB 339 (Wiener) SB 729 (Menjivar) SB 957 (Wiener) SB 990 (Padilla) SB 1022 (Skinner) SB 1333 (Eggman) SB 1491 (Eggman)
AB 1825 (Muratsuchi)
AB 1955 (Ward)
AB 1979 (Ward)
AB 2258 (Zbur)
AB 2442 (Zbur)
AB 3031 (Lee & Low)
SB 339 (Wiener)
SB 729 (Menjivar)
SB 957 (Wiener)
SB 990 (Padilla)
SB 1022 (Skinner)
SB 1333 (Eggman)
SB 1491 (Eggman) SCORE
