The Pride LA 4.7.23

Abbey Founder Declares Drag is Not A Crime

In solidary with drag performers, David Cooley, founder of The Abbey Food & Bar, stood before the West Hollywood City Council on March 6 to make statement

By Susan Payne

“Drag is not a crime.”

In solidary with drag performers, David Cooley, founder of The Abbey Food & Bar, stood before the West Hollywood City Council on March 6 to make that statement, joined by 11 drag entertainers who perform at the Abby WeHo and The Chapel.

In response to the state of Tennessee becoming the first state to criminalize drag shows, Cooley posted his speech on the @ abbeyweho Instagram page, according to the

WeHo Times.

He said:

“Last week, Tennessee became the first state to criminalize drag shows.

It is now possible for a drag performer to be charged with a felony and have their voting rights stripped, just for performing.

The bill is also so broad, it also means a trans person walking down the street could be charged with a felony for impersonating a male or female.

Tennessee lawmakers are not done, they also have bills targeting venues that feature drag performers. They want to reclassify them as strip clubs. It could soon be illegal to see a drag queen in a gay bar in Tennessee.

Drag is not a crime.

Tennessee isn’t alone. Just two months into 2023, conservative lawmakers have introduced over 340 anti-LGBT bills.

We are here tonight to show solidarity for our friends in Tennessee and ask the City of West Hollywood to issue a proclamation affirming that Drag is art, not a crime.

Drag is an artform built on self-expression and artistic performance. Drag is also

powerful tool for political protest, that uplifts the LGBTQ+ community in the face of discrimination and oppression.

We want the City of West Hollywood @ wehocity to make it clear that drag is both an art and form of political protest — both protected by the United States Constitution.

We can send a powerful message to the entire country that we value and support the

Donatella Versace Visits the Los Angeles LGBT Center

Hosts master class with CFDA designersr

By Sam Catanzaro

Last month, the Los Angeles LGBT Center welcomed Donatella Versace, the Chief Creative Officer of Versace, for a tour of the nonprofit and a keynote conversation that was open to the public. Ms. Versace’s visit celebrates the announcement of a scholarship program for LGTBQ+ fashion students, supported by the Versace Foundation and the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA).

Ms. Versace toured the Center’s vast array of services, where she met with the Center’s

frontline workers and service providers from our Senior Services, Culinary Arts, and Youth Services departments. To accompany her visit, the CFDA brought the designers Pia Davis of No Sesso and Sergio Hudson to host a “fashion masterclass” with young people enrolled in the Center’s Youth Academy. The Los Angeles LGBT Center offers a wide range of programs and services for LGBTQ+ youth, including housing and education services, school-based programs, the LifeWorks mentorship program, and Models of Pride—the world’s largest free conference for LGBTQ+ youth.

Afterwards, Ms. Versace sat down with the Center’s Chief Marketing and Communications Officer, Phillip Picardi, for a fireside chat about her career in fashion and her advocacy for the LGBTQ+ community.

“I was truly honoured to be at the Los

Angeles LGBT Center today to officially launch our scholarship with the CFDA to support LGBTQ+ students. Seeing the work of this incredible organisation in person was so important for me. The support they give to the people who need it most is invaluable, and I am thrilled to be a small part of helping the work they do. It was also a wonderful chance to bring together our fashion community. Together we are all stronger,” said Donatella Versace.

She was introduced by the Center’s CEO, Joe Hollendoner, who said he was “personally very moved by Donatella’s visit.” “I have seen firsthand her commitment to uplifting the beauty in our community, and in all of us as individuals. It’s been a pleasure to welcome her to the Center,” he said.

rights of all individuals to express themselves freely and openly. We can send a message to our friends all over the country, whose rights are being stripped away, that we support them.

I urge you to take a bold and affirmative stand to support drag performers everywhere. #beyourself #notacriminal #SupportDragQueens #DragIsNOTaCrime”

Kingsley Manor is an eclectic, friendly senior living community filled with joy, diversity and acceptance. It is exactly the welcoming home I was looking for. The residents here are some of the most interesting I have ever met. People representing so many cultures and lifestyles make Kingsley their home, and I fit right in.

-resident John H.

Santa Monica Place Invites LGBTQIA+ Artisans to Apply for Made With PRIDE Marketplace

Deadline April 21 to submit applicaiton

By Sam Catanzaro

Partnering with Streetlet, the marketplace will take place each weekend in June and showcase local goods made in Southern California.

Santa Monica Place is inviting LGBTQIA+ artisans and makers to apply for the Made with PRIDE Marketplace, which will be returning to the center each Friday, Saturday, and Sunday in June. The unique pop-up retail marketplace is part of the annual SaMo PRIDE, a month-long citywide celebration focused on family-friendly displays and activities that safely celebrate the City of Santa Monica’s inclusive and diverse spirit.

To bring back the Made with PRIDE Marketplace, Santa Monica Place has partnered with Streetlet, an opportunitymatching and growth engine for small business owners and makers. Streetlet is now accepting vendor applications for Made with

PRIDE until April 21, 2023. All selections will be complete by May 1, 2023.

Made with PRIDE will feature LGBTQIA+ business owners and highlight their stories, unique products, and services. Each business will showcase local goods and services made, conceived, and curated in Southern California. Vendors are provided with a free space to activate and retain 100% of the sales.

If you are an LGBTQIA+ artisan or maker, don’t miss out on this opportunity to showcase your products at the Made with PRIDE Marketplace at Santa Monica Place. For more information and to fill out a vendor application visit streetlet.com.

Outed MMA Fighter Jeff Molina Comes out as Bisexual

end of anti-gay backlash for wearing rainbow shorts during a fight, but post-match, the fighter had a lot to say refuting the backlash.

“I just thought in 2022 people would be a little more open-minded and not pieces of shit. But I guess I was wrong,” Molina wrote.

On the day of his coming out, Molina wrote:

By Susan Payne

UFC bantamweight Jeff Molina, known as “El Jefe,” in the octagon, was outed on social media and not given his own time and place to announce his coming out.

“Welp.. this (expletive) sucks,” he wrote. “TLDR: im bi. Not the way I wanted to do this but the chance to do it when I was ready was taken from me.”

In the post on Twitter, Molina explained he dated girls his entire life and suppressed feelings he had throughout high school being on the wrestling team, throughout college and pursuing MMA, the Los Angeles Blade reported.

Last month, Molina was on the receiving

“At the end of the day I know my character, morals, and who I am as a person. As much as I’m getting hated/shitted on I’m getting an equal amount of support & it means a (expletive) ton.”

In fact, Molina received immediate support from fellow MMA fighters Chris Curtis and from fans with huge numbers of followers, the Blade reported.

“The thought of my buddies, teammates, and ppl I look up to looking at me different let alone treating me different for something I can’t control was something I couldn’t fathom. In a sport like this where a majority of the fans being the homophobic (expletive) they are I didn’t see myself doing this during this part of my career,” Molina wrote, adding that he wanted to be known for skills and his dedication, not for his sexual orientation.

“Not the way I wanted to do this but the chance to do it when I was ready was taken from me,” Molina says

Los Angeles LGBT Center Hosts Drag March in Protest of Anti-LGBTQ+ Legislation

Over 1,000 Angelenos to rally for rights on Easter Sunday

By Sam Catanzaro

Los Angeles, April 04 – The Los Angeles LGBT Center is set to host the Drag March LA on Easter Sunday, April 9, 2023, in response to the increasing number of anti-LGBTQ+ bills being introduced or passed in the United States. The event will bring together over 40 LGBTQ+ organizations, faith groups, and activists for a rally and kickoff performance at West Hollywood Park.

Attendees will have the opportunity to hear from speakers such as Los Angeles County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath, West Hollywood Mayor Sepi Shyne, and Los Angeles LGBT Center CEO Joe Hollendoner. The event will also feature performances by RuPaul’s Drag Race alums Kerri Colby and Honey Davenport, as well as a resource fair connecting attendees with local service providers and tips for legislative advocacy.

Board of Supervisors Approves Motion to Fly Progress Pride Flag in LA County Offices

Flags will be flown at Los Angeles County facilities where American and California flags are flown each year

Los Angeles LGBT Center CEO Joe Hollendoner stated that the Drag March is a reminder of the origins of the LGBTQ+ movement and the fight for privacy, bodily autonomy, self-determination, and freedom of expression. He added that the current “Drag Bans” are accompanied by a sweeping movement to ban access to gender-affirming care.

Partner organizations for Drag March LA include the ACLU of Southern California, Equality California, Lambda Legal, and the San Francisco AIDS Foundation, among others.

Over 400 anti-LGBTQ+ bills have been introduced or passed in the United States in the first three months of 2023, many of which target transgender and gender nonconforming people. The Drag March will provide an opportunity for attendees to come together in solidarity and celebrate their rights.

By Sam Catanzaro

Los Angeles County offices will raise the Progress Pride Flag during June’s LGBTQ+ Pride Month, according to a motion unanimously approved by the Board of Supervisors.

The motion directed the county’s Internal Services Department to display the flag at the Kenneth Hahn Hall of Administration and other Los Angeles County facilities where American and California flags are flown each year.

The move is in contrast to recent actions taken by other governing bodies that have banned displays of the Pride flag. Last month, Huntington Beach City Council voted against flying the flag on city-owned property, two

years after voting unanimously to fly it.

The Progress Pride Flag was created by artist Daniel Quasar as a reimagination of Gilbert Baker’s original Gay Pride flag first flown 45 years ago on Freedom Day in San Francisco. The new design includes black and brown stripes representing marginalized and diverse communities of color, those lost to HIV/AIDS, and those living with the disease. Chevron shapes in the new colors represent “a need for forward movement,” according to the motion.

Supervisors Janice Hahn and Lindsey Horvath introduced the motion, with Hahn stating that they were seeing “anti-LGBTQ+ and anti-trans bills being passed at an alarming rate across the country.” By raising the Progress Pride Flag at county facilities, LA County is making its position clear: “LGBTQ+ residents have unwavering support from their government,” said Hahn in a statement after the vote.

Los Angeles County is one of several US cities that have passed similar measures allowing for displays of Pride flags during LGBTQ+ Pride Month celebrations.

California’s Affordable Housing Crisis Disproportionately Impacts LGBTQ Adults, UCLA Study Finds

New Report by the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research highlights the connection between lack of affordable housing, delayed access to healthcare and food insecurity

By Sam Catanzaro

A new report published by the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research highlights the strong connection between the lack of affordable housing and residents’ access to health care in California.

The study, based on responses to the 2021 California Health Interview Survey, reveals that 1 in 10 adults in the state, or approximately 3 million people, faced difficulties in paying for housing this year. Renters, in particular, were more vulnerable, with 18.6% reporting struggles to pay their landlords, compared to only 5% of homeowners who faced similar difficulties. Housing instability was also an issue for 4.4% of California adults.

Newsom Calls Huntington Beach City Council Decision ‘Rank’

The report also reveals disparities among different groups, with noncitizen residents, Black or African American adults, and Latinos being more likely to struggle with housing costs than white adults. Lesbian, gay, and bisexual adults and transgender or gendernonconforming adults also reported higher rates of difficulty paying for housing.

“There is an urgent need to address the issue of housing affordability in California,” said Ninez Ponce, director of the center and principal investigator of the California Health Interview Survey. “State representatives and policymakers must prioritize California’s marginalized communities, who are struggling to gain access to basic human needs.”

The authors of the report suggest that addressing the issue of housing affordability in California will require a combination of measures, including strengthening renter eviction protections, funding more affordable housing developments, and eliminating barriers to building affordable housing. Ninez Ponce, the director of the center and principal investigator of the California Health Interview Survey, emphasizes the need to prioritize California’s marginalized communities, who are struggling to gain access to basic human needs.

By Susan Payne

Huntington Beach garnered disapproval from Governor Gavin Newsom on its recent decision to ban the flying of the Pride flag on city property.

In a response to a question from the Los Angeles Blade at a March 9 press conference, Newsom said, “What a disgrace to take down the Pride flag,” calling the actions of the city council “jaw dropping,” and said, “whether it is legal or not it’s wrong and it’s shameful — these attacks, these assaults on the LGBTQ community.”

On a March 9 radio show on The Daily Wire, a far-right extremist media out, Matt Walsh, an anti-LGBTQ+ host, told his audience that the LGBTQ+ Pride flag is a hate symbol.

“We should treat it as a hate symbol because that’s what it is. They fly the flag, that flag, because they hate you and your values and what you believe and everything you stand for,” Walsh said.

Matt Walsh, the host said, according to the show’s transcript:

“Let’s just put this plainly. The Pride flag does not deserve our respect.

In fact, it deserves our disrespect. It deserves our contempt and mockery. It is not the flag of gay people. Okay? That’s not what it is. Gay people in America, they already have a flag. It’s called the American flag. It’s the flag we all share or are supposed to share.

The Pride flag, which was invented by a farleft activist drag queen, represents not a person or a people or a community, but an agenda, a political and cultural agenda. It always has. It has from the very beginning. It still does now. And today, nearly all of the most depraved and perverse attacks on children, on tradition, on decency, on common sense are waged under

this banner. That’s what it signifies. Okay?

The gay pride flag signifies drag queens dancing for toddlers, males invading women’s bathrooms. It signifies castration drugs given to children. It signifies the destruction of the nuclear family. When government officials send that thing up the flagpole or paint its ridiculous colors in the street, that is what they’re promoting. It’s what they’re advertising. It is the cause they want us to salute.

Not only should we should we refuse to salute it, but we should treat it with disdain. We should treat it as a hate symbol because that’s what it is. They fly the flag, that flag, because they hate you and your values and what you believe and everything you stand for.

“This state stands firmly behind the LGBTQ community and will continue to fight against homophobia and this kind of discrimination and just rank, rank, performative politics.”

Long Beach Businesses with LGBTQ Flags Vandalized Suspect Pleads Guilty to Killing Los Angeles-Born Gay Man in 1988

The family of Johnson, who was born in Los Angeles, fought to overturn an initial finding

By Susan Payne

Last month, an Australian man pleaded guilty to manslaughter in the 1988 death of an American who fell from a clifftop in Sydney.

Wide Eyes Open Palms, Folklore Salon & Barber and the Long Beach LGBTQ Center all victims of vandalism

By Susan Payne

Three businesses in Long Beach have reported windows smashed in with one common denominator: visible LGBTQ symbols.

Wide Eyes Open Palms, Folklore Salon & Barber and the Long Beach LGBTQ Center have Pride colors painted on the building or fly Pride flags.

Surveillance video captured a man smashing

the door window at Wide Eyes Open Palm, according to NBC Los Angeles. Angie Evans, the coffee shop’s co-owner, told NBC she thought the case was isolated until she heard about the vandalism at the LGBTQ Center. A stylist at Folklore Salon & Barber, Andrea Arriola, told NBC she felt the same way.

“It was definitely jarring once we put all the pieces together and realized it was more of a message than just a break-in,” Arriola said.

Long Beach police said they are looking into the cases to see if there is a connection.

Two years ago, no one was ever caught after someone burned down the Pride-painted lifeguard tower a few miles away, NBC reported.

Scott White’s guilty admission in the New South Wales state Supreme Court came three months after he had his conviction on charges of murdering Scott Johnson overturned by an appeals court, according to KTLA News.

The family of Johnson, who was born in Los Angeles, fought to overturn an initial finding that he took his own life on that cliff, known as a gay meeting place.

“Reading the black and white of his confession, in which he states that he threw the first punch, which I imagine was the only punch and my brother must have been very close to the cliff … makes me pretty angry,” Johnson said.

In 2017, a coroner ruled that Scott Johnson

fell from the cliff as a result of actual or threatened violence who attacked him based on his sexuality, and that gangs of men roamed Sydney locations in search of gay men to assault, resulting sometimes in death.

Violence against gay men in Sydney was particularly prevalent from the mid-1980s until the early 1990s due to increased hostility and fear stemming from the AIDS epidemic, an HIV support group called ACON told the inquiry.

“In fact, many of us believe that it was the police indifference to these killings and bashings of gay men back in the ’80s that helped cause them. The perpetrators always knew they would not get into trouble,” Johnson said.

Steve Johnson offered a $704,000 reward in 2020 for information about his brother’s death, which may have led to White’s conviction. White pleaded not guilty to murder and guilty to manslaughter, according to KTLA.

(Photo: Johnson family) Scott (left) and Steve Johnson.

House Digest Reports Best LGBTQ+ Friendly Cities in California

SF, Irvine and Santa Monica top the list

By Susan Payne

California, with its exceptionally high LGBTQ+ populations and progressive economic, educational and social policies, was rated by the Movement Advancement Project (MAP) as the one of the top 15 states with policies and resources geared toward LGBTQ+ support.

House Digest reported the top cities in California with the highest scores from the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) Municipal Equality Index, which assesses cities based on non-discriminatory laws, employment policies, municipal services, hate crime rates and political leadership.

San Francisco

Nearly 6.7% of the San Francisco population identifies as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender, totaling almost a quarter of a million people, according to state records in 2021, making the city more accepting and progressive regarding LGBTQ+ issues.

According to the HRC, San Francisco has a perfect score in the Municipal Equality Index with high marks in non-discriminatory public and workplace laws, all-gender facilities and LGBTQ+ city services.

Irvine

Between Los and Angeles and San Diego is Irvine, known as one of the safest cities in the U.S. with the lowest rate of violent crime per capita of any other city with a 250,000 or higher population, according to the city of Irvine and House Digest.

The Irvine region is home to “Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) Orange County,” a national organization that support and provides resources for non-cis and non-heterosexual individuals, giving the city a perfect 100 score on the Municipal Equality Index report.

Santa Monica

Another city with a perfect score from the HRC, Santa Monica hosts a number of local events and organizations that support the LGBTQ+ community. Many of the cities widely known gay bars and piers are a safe haven for non-conforming individuals.

Cathedral City

With a modest number of 55,000 people, Cathedral City is a smaller city, but the residents lean toward more progressive views. Close to a big city, but not quite a big city, Cathedral City has a crime rate that falls beneath the country and state average, making it a safe place to live.

Cathedral City also rated perfectly on the Municipal Equality Index with three out of council members who are openly gay, and California’s first pride event of the year bringing in at least 10,000 attendees.

San Jose

Not only is San Jose a happy place to live, but the city also has a welcoming LGBTQ_ community and is considered “under the radar” since its queer acceptance programs aren’t as publicized as the other California cities. San Jose scored a 97 near-perfect score from HRC.

Long Beach

House Digest reported that Long Beach has spent over 10 consecutive years on the list of best LGBTQ+ cities, reaching a score of 100 and 11 bonus points on the HRC Municipal Equality Index. Long Beach boasts passing non-discriminatory laws and resources in the workplace in support of the LGBTQ+ individuals who reside here.

West Hollywood

Over 40% of the West Hollywood population identifies as non-heterosexual or non-cis, according to Travel Gay. The city is lined with 25 gay bars and clubs, making every corner a pit stop for support.

Los Angeles

Known for its multicultural population, Los Angeles has three neighborhoods with strong communities for closeted and openly gay people. LA welcomed a 100 HRC score for its LGBTQ+ resources.

Palm Springs

Unique to Palm Springs is its common association for retirement, specifically for LGBTQ+ identifying people. Around 50% of residents over the age of 55 identify as non-hetero or non-cis, making it the perfect location for retirees or people seeking a peaceful and leisurely existence, according to House Digest. Palm Springs received a perfect HRC score for its political, economic and educational policies.

San Diego

Outdoor enthusiasts look to San Diego for natural beauty, but the city is also home to a rich cultural scene including art galleries, museums, botanical gardens, breweries and more. Nearly 8.8% of residents identify as LGBTQ+ within the county, making it an inclusive place to live. San Diego was given a perfect score on the Municipal Equality Index.

WeHo ‘Rainbow Mile’ Runners Amass 20K in Marathon

Nearly 20,000 runners gathered for Rainbow Mile

By Susan Payne

Nearly 20,000 runners gathered in West Hollywood for the 28th Annual Los Angeles Marathon, referred to as the “Rainbow Mile,” according to West Hollywood Mayor Pro Tem John Erickson.

The festive scene — complete with costumes, signs and cheering — on Santa Monica Boulevard was telecasted on KTLA, according to the Los Angeles Blade.

“It’s the best mile,” he told Wendy Burch of KTLA. “We’ve got all the colors, we’ve got all the diversity, and there’s no better place to do it than West Hollywood… we love that they come through the city every year. We can see the crowds come out, every family from all walks of life, and we do it right here in West

Hollywood because this is where everyone is welcome.”

Wheelchair participants started at the Dodger Stadium, followed by the women’s division, and then shortly after, the men’s division and the general public. The course followed through downtown Los Angeles, Hollywood, West Hollywood, Beverly Hills and Century City, according to the Blade.

From the women’s division, Stacy Ndiwa of Kenya crossed the finished line first, clocking in at 2 hours and 31 minutes. Jemal Yimer of Ethiopia placed first from the men’s division with 2 hours, 13 minutes and 13 seconds on the clock.

Proudly, between the 14th and 15th miles of the course, West Hollywood’s portion of the run has been unchanged in previous years, crossing Sunset Boulevard at Marmont Lane, west of N. Crescent Heights Boulevard, then west onto Santa Monica Boulevard, then south onto N. Doheny Drive ahead of the Beverly Hills city entrance.

U.S. Food and Drug Administration Moves to Ease Restrictions on Blood Donations from Gay and Bisexual Men

The new proposed guidelines are anticipated to go into effect after a public comment period

By Staff writer

The City of West Hollywood is getting the word out that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued proposed guidance in late January 2023 to ease restrictions on blood donations by men who have sex with men. Restrictions on blood donations from gay and bisexual men, as well as other groups considered to be at high risk for HIV/AIDS, date back to the early 1980s.

The FDA “donor deferral policy” for men who have sex with men (MSM) prohibits them

Bill Introduced for K-12 Statewide

Gender-Neutral Restrooms

from donating blood for three months following their most recent sexual contact. The new proposed policy would eliminate the time-based restrictions on men who have sex with men (and their female partners) and, instead, screen potential donor eligibility based on a series of questions that assess HIV risk, regardless of gender. Anyone taking medications to treat or prevent HIV, including PrEP, would not be eligible.

The new proposed guidelines are anticipated to go into effect after a public comment period of 60 days. The FDA will then review those comments and issue a final ruling, expected later this year. For more details and to submit comments, visit the FDA website.

“While this is nowhere near the victory that the LGBTQ community has been fighting for, the FDA proposed guidance is a step in the right direction,” said City of West Hollywood Mayor Pro Tempore John M. Erickson. “For decades, there have been discriminatory blanket restrictions on who can give blood. These policies are still in effect and to this day they still discriminate against LGBTQ people. Leading medical groups, such as the American Medical Association have said these exclusions are unnecessary given advances in testing blood for infectious disease pathogens. I urge community members to provide comment to the FDA. Our blood supply should be guided by a sciencebased approach that supports people in donating, instead of furthering stigma and turning people away. I’m proud that West Hollywood has been on record for years urging the FDA to update its blood donor guidelines, especially with our involvement with the ADVANCE study that led to part of these changes. Finally, we’re beginning to see movement on this issue.”

In 2021 and 2022, the City of West Hollywood participated in community outreach for the ADVANCE Study (“Assessing Donor Variability And New Concepts in Eligibility”), a pilot study aimed at research and collaboration to make blood donation a more inclusive process while maintaining the safety of the blood supply. Study enrollment concluded on September 30, 2022 and researchers from the participating blood centers – Vitalant, OneBlood, and the American Red Cross – continue to share study data with the FDA. For more information about the ADVANCE Study, please visit https:// advancestudy.org.

For more information, please contact Hernán Molina, the City of West Hollywood’s Governmental Affairs Liaison, at (323) 8486364 or at hmolina@weho.org. For people who are Deaf or hard of hearing, please call TTY (323) 848-6496.

Under the proposed SB 760, all K-12 schools across the state will be required to provide accessible all-gender bathrooms for students to use safely and comfortably

By Susan Payne

A bill to require K-12 schools in California to provide appropriate and equitable access to gender-neutral restrooms for students has been introduced by the Chair of the Senate Committee on Education and Senator Josh Newman.

“Schools should provide a safe and inclusive environment for all students, one where they’re able to focus on learning and where they’re encouraged to thrive academically, socially and emotionally,” said Newman (D-Fullerton).

“Let’s face it— at some point during a typical 8-hour school day, everyone is going to have to go. By requiring all California K-12 schools to provide gender-inclusive restroom facilities on campus, we’ll ensure the well-being of our LGBTQ+ and non-binary students and ensure safer school communities for everyone.”

Currently, California schools must grant students access to restroom facilities consistent with their gender, but the frequent lack of easily accessed, explicitly gender-neutral restrooms at schools remains problematic for students who do not identify with the traditional genders, according to the Los Angeles Blade.

“While states across the country are passing discriminatory policies attacking

LGBTQ+ students, especially trans and nonbinary youth, California is doubling down to ensure that schools are safe for all students to succeed,” said Equality California Executive Director Tony Hoang, a co-sponsor of SB 760. “SB 760 will ensure that students have access to an all-gender restroom without fear of harassment. We are grateful for the leadership of Senator Newman and Superintendent Thurmond in championing this first-of-itskind legislation to create a safe and supportive environment for all students.”

Under the proposed SB 760, all K-12 schools across the state will be required to provide accessible all-gender bathrooms for students to use safely and comfortably, according to the Blade. The bill also mandates there be a sufficient number of all-gender, unlocked restrooms.

Senator Caroline Menjivar, Assemblymember Corey Jackson and Assemblymember Evan Low co-authors SB 760. If the bill is approved by committees in this legislative session, it will head to Gov. Newsom’s desk by the end of summer, the Blade reported.

If the bill is approved by committees throughout this legislative session, it will head to the Governor Newsom’s desk by the end of the summer.