Senate Passes Senator Wiener’s Bill to Protect LGBTQ Foster Youth

After an emotional exchange on the Senate floor about the need to protect LGBTQ youth from abuse in the statefunded foster care system, as states across the country scapegoat LGBTQ youth and roll back LGBTQ rights, the Senate passed Senator Scott Wiener’s (D-San Francisco) Senate Bill 407. The bill directs the Department of Social Services to amend the foster care vetting process to ensure LGBTQ foster youth are not placed in hostile foster homes. The bill passed 30-9 and heads next to the Assembly.

“While red states are stoking fear about LGBTQ youth to justify rolling back civil rights, California is expanding protections for our most vulnerable children,” said Senator Wiener. “In California we believe that every child deserves to feel safe and affirmed at home, regardless of their identity. It’s imperative that we support this value in the state-funded foster care system, where LGBTQ youth are over-represented.”

Video of the Senate Floor exchange will be available tomorrow in the Senate’s Media Archive.

More than 30% of foster youth identify as LGBTQ. Anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideation - which already afflicted LGBTQ youth disproportionately - are on the rise amid a nationwide onslaught of attacks on LGBTQ youth’s rights. Over 400 antiLGBTQ bills have been filed in states across the country this year alone, and LGBTQ youth are exposed to the bigotry behind them via social media.

SB 407 is sponsored by Equality California and the California Alliance of Child and Family Services. Read more about SB 407 here: https://sd11.senate.ca. gov/news/20230317-senator-wienerintroduces-legislation-protect-lgbtq-fosteryouth

Drag Is Not A Crime, Judge Rules

The ruling by U.S. District Judge Thomas L. Parker that Tennessee’s prohibition on drag shows is unconstitutional is a blow for freedom that all Americans should celebrate, the leader of an LGBTQ-affirming Christian denomination said today. Hot’), Dustin Hoffman (‘Tootsie’), Julie Andrews (‘Victor/Victoria’), comedian Flip Wilson, and countless others,” Eggleston said.

“On its face, this law was a clear attack on entertainment in the LGBTQ community, particularly during June Pride celebrations,” said Rev. Elder Cecilia Eggleston, moderator of Metropolitan Community Churches (MCC) worldwide. “On a much simpler level, it amounted to the government telling individuals what clothing and makeup they could wear. Anyone who doesn’t find that disturbing is clearly not looking at the big picture.”

While Tennessee’s law didn’t specifically use the word “drag,” it was clearly crafted as an effort to limit drag performances among LGBTQ folx. Among other things, the law moved “female or male impersonation” into the same legal category as “strippers.”

“People have been entertained by drag for decades, including Milton Berle, Jack Lemmon and Tony Curtis (‘Some Like it

“Let’s also not forget Cpl. Klinger in the long-running ‘MASH.’ Such legislative efforts are clearly not about drag, but about LGBTQ people, and particularly transgender folx.

“No one in a free society can approve of the government deciding what individuals can wear,” Eggleston said. “We do not function well under real or facsimile versions of Sharia Law, and I’m very happy that Judge Parker has ruled this law is incompatible with U.S. law and with Western freedoms overall.”

MCC is a global Christian denomination with a presence in more than 25 countries. The church welcomes, affirms, and ordains LGBTQ persons.

For more information about MCC visit: www.VisitMCCChurch.com.