Jorge Reyes Salinas

Equality California, the nation’s largest statewide LGBTQ+ civil rights organization, issued the following statement from Executive Director Tony Hoang in response to the passage of AB 1955, the SAFETY Act, through both houses of the California legislature following a successful 60-15 vote in the Assembly:

“With LGBTQ+ young people under attack in California from extremist politicians and school boards seeking to prevent them from safely being themselves at school, the SAFETY Act could not be more timely or necessary. We are thrilled to see it headed to Governor Newsom’s desk.

While today’s Assembly floor vote was successful, anti-LGBTQ+ politician Bill Essayli took the opportunity to be disruptive, attempt to delay the process, and spew misinformation harmful to LGBTQ+ youth and their families. This serves as a stark reminder that though we have a pro-equality majority in Sacramento, our opponents will continue to use bigoted rhetoric and political circus stunts to attack our community.

We are thankful to Assemblymember Ward and the Legislative LGBTQ Caucus for spearheading this legislation and to the diverse coalition of partners that has supported this effort.

This critical legislation will strengthen protections for LGBTQ+ youth against forced outing policies, provide resources for parents and families of LGBTQ+ students to support them as they have conversations on their own terms, and provide critical safeguards to prevent retaliation against teachers and school staff who foster a safe and supportive school environment for all students.

We strongly urge Governor Newsom to sign this urgently needed bill as soon as possible.”

Equality California, the nation’s largest statewide LGBTQ+ civil rights organization, released the following statement from Executive Director Tony Hoang in response to the release of the 2023 Hate Crime in California report by the Office of California Attorney General Rob Bonta:

“The report released today by the Attorney General reveals that, although overall hate incidents have decreased across our state, those targeting the LGBTQ+ community saw a sharp increase.

Among the disturbing findings in the report are:

• A 4.1% increase in hate crimes motivated by sexual orientation bias
• A 10.2% increase in hate crimes motivated by anti-transgender bias
• An 86.4% increase in hate crimes targeting the broader LGBTQ+ community

These statistics aren’t a surprise. Hate does not happen in a vacuum. Over the past several years, we have seen a sharp increase in anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric being expressed by far-right extremists and hate groups. This year alone, more than 600 pieces of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation were introduced across the country, including right here in California. The data in this report makes it clear: anti-LGBTQ+ laws and policies directly result in physical intimidation, harassment, and acts of violence. No person should have to live with fear of being themselves, and we must be very clear that hate has no place in California.

Ensuring that LGBTQ+ Californians know their rights and have the proper resources to report a hate incident is one of our top priorities. Through our Stop the Hate program, in collaboration with the California Department of Social Services, Equality California has developed and provided comprehensive, affirming resources and support for survivors of hate crimes. Equality California will continue to work with our legislative allies in Sacramento to support initiatives and legislation that aim to increase the safety of LGBTQ+ people and the diverse communities in which we belong.

We are grateful to Attorney General Rob Bonta for his steadfast support for all LGBTQ+ Californians, especially LGBTQ+ youth who continue to face unprecedented attacks simply for being who they are.”

If you or someone you know has experienced a hate incident, please visit eqca.org/stopthehate.

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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

Equality California, the nation’s largest statewide LGBTQ+ civil rights organization, announced endorsements for 36 incumbent members of Congress running for re-election in 2024 on Monday.

Equality California extends pro forma endorsements to incumbent members of Congress in California running for re-election who have earned a 100% pro-equality rating on the organization’s legislative scorecards in both of the last two years and who meet Equality California’s code of ethics, standards of conduct and other applicable endorsement criteria. (See below for additional details.)

“LGBTQ+ Californians are lucky to be represented in Washington by so many incredible pro-equality champions,” said Executive Director Tony Hoang.“Together with California’s congressional delegation, Equality California is working to protect transgender youth and their families, defend abortion access and reproductive freedom, preserve access to gender-affirming care, advance racial justice, enact common-sense gun safety laws, reform our broken immigration system and create a world that is healthy, just and fully equal for all LGBTQ+ people. We are proud to support these fantastic leaders in their campaigns for reelection this year.”

Equality California announced new 2024 endorsements for the following members of Congress:

• Congressional District 2: Jared Huffman
• Congressional District 4: Mike Thompson
• Congressional District 6: Ami Bera
• Congressional District 7: Doris Matsui
• Congressional District 8: John Garamendi
• Congressional District 9: Josh Harder
• Congressional District 10: Mark DeSaulnier
• Congressional District 11: Nancy Pelosi
• Congressional District 14: Eric Swalwell
• Congressional District 15: Kevin Mullin
• Congressional District 16: Anna Eshoo
• Congressional District 17: Ro Khanna
• Congressional District 18: Zoe Lofgren
• Congressional District 19: Jimmy Panetta
• Congressional District 21: Jim Costa
• Congressional District 24: Salud Carbajal
• Congressional District 25: Dr. Raul Ruiz, MD
• Congressional District 26: Julia Brownley
• Congressional District 28: Judy Chu
• Congressional District 29: Tony Cardenas
• Congressional District 32: Brad Sherman
• Congressional District 33: Pete Aguilar
• Congressional District 34: Jimmy Gomez
• Congressional District 35: Norma Torres
• Congressional District 36: Ted Lieu
• Congressional District 37: Sydney Kamlager-Dove
• Congressional District 38: Linda T. Sánchez
• Congressional District 39: Mark Takano
• Congressional District 42: Robert Garcia
• Congressional District 43: Maxine Waters
• Congressional District 44: Nanette Barragán
• Congressional District 46: Lou Correa
• Congressional District 49: Mike Levin
• Congressional District 50: Scott Peters
• Congressional District 51: Sara Jacobs
• Congressional District 52: Juan Vargas

Bold names indicate out LGBTQ+ candidates.

Additional Details:

Candidates who took office in 2022 are evaluated based on last year’s score only. Equality California’s Endorsement Process and Guidelines are available online at eqca.org/elections.

For a complete list of Equality California’s endorsements, please visit eqca.org/elections.

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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

Equality California, the nation’s largest statewide LGBTQ+ civil rights organization, released the following statement from Executive Director Tony Hoang after the vote by the Chino Valley USD Board of Education to adopt a policy that will forcibly out transgender, nonbinary, and gender non-conforming students — who may use different names and pronouns at school than those they were assigned at birth — to their parents without the student’s consent:

“Equality California is appalled and alarmed by the level of blatant homophobia and transphobia leveled against LGBTQ+ youth by the Chino Valley Unified School Board yesterday evening. With LGBTQ+ youth around the country under attack, the school board put their most vulnerable students in harm’s way with their dangerous vote to forcibly out trans, non-binary, and gender non-conforming youth without their consent. The policy they passed last night is dangerous and in direct opposition to recommendations made by the California Department of Education. 

In an ideal world, all LGBTQ+ students would have supportive homes with parents and guardians that are positive and active partners in conversations around gender identity and sexual orientation. Unfortunately, we know that’s not the case. According to the Trevor Project’s 2022 National Survey on LGBTQ Youth Mental Health, 51% of transgender and nonbinary youth identified school as a gender-affirming space, while only 32% said the same of their homes. LGBTQ+ youth are more likely to be housing-insecure, and engage in self-harming behavior — particularly if they don’t feel they have a supportive family environment. 

At yesterday’s meeting, the rhetoric and behavior of many of the board members, especially Board President Sonja Shaw, was dangerous and unfit for an elected official. Shaw and fellow members referred to LGBTQ+ students as being mentally ill, a harmful and wildly false statement to make in front of students attending the meeting. They also forcibly removed meeting attendees who did not agree with their extremist agenda, including State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond, Chino Valley USD students, and Equality California staff members. Shame on them. 

One of the major proponents of this misguided policy change is California Assemblymember Bill Essayli, who earlier this year attempted to pass AB 1314, which would have implemented forced outing policies statewide, also attended this meeting amid his push to make the existence of LGBTQ+ youth a partisan issue. Equality California was proud to work with our partners in the legislature to defeat this cruel legislation before it even left committee. 

Equality California is committed to advocating for the well-being of all LGBTQ+ students in California and will continue to closely monitor the actions of school districts around the state. We will hold elected officials who use their positions to bully and harm our youth accountable for their actions.”

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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

Equality California, the nation’s largest statewide LGBTQ+ civil rights organization, released the following statement from Executive Director Tony Hoang in response to Rep. Tom McClintock (R-CA) introducing H.R. 2640, the Border Security and Enforcement Act of 2023, which would make it much harder for immigrants to seek asylum in the US and reinstate previous provisions enforced during the Trump Administration:

“The United States has always served as a beacon of hope for immigrants seeking a better life for themselves and their families, including those who are LGBTQ+. Until our nation has a just and functional immigration system, we do not have full and lasting LGBTQ+ equality. Undocumented LGBTQ+ people and those seeking asylum face tremendous negative effects on their social well-being for being members of two marginalized groups.

Many seeking asylum do so because they are fleeing violence or persecution in their countries of origin. As we’ve seen recently in places like Uganda and Iran, LGBTQ+ people face significant danger in other parts of the world simply because of who they are or who they love. Representative McClintock’s bill seeks only to further stigmatize immigrant communities, a population already vulnerable to harassment and discrimination, and he should be ashamed for contributing to anti-immigrant narratives.

Equality California will continue our efforts to educate about the compounded disparities that LGBTQ+ immigrants and undocumented people face, and we urge the House and Senate to vote down this dangerous legislation.”

H.R. 2640 would aggressively reduce the number of people eligible for asylum by expanding a series of felonies and misdemeanors that would make most ineligible for asylum protections. It would also mandate detention for family units crossing the border without prior authorization for the duration of their legal process, including detention for minors. Additionally, the bill would mandate asylum requests be conducted at ports of entry, raise penalties for visa overstays, and crack down on immigrant workers.

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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

Equality California, the nation’s largest statewide LGBTQ+ civil rights organization, endorsed California Proposition 1, the Reproductive Freedom Act, that seeks to amend the California Constitution to protect a person’s right to basic healthcare and reproductive freedoms on Wednesday. Senate Pro Tem Toni Atkins and Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon introduced the Reproductive Freedom Act shortly after the draft opinion in Dobbs v. Jackson was leaked in May, indicating that the Court would likely issue a ruling that would reverse Roe v. Wade and undercut nearly five decades of precedence that protects access to abortion. The California Legislature voted to place Proposition 1 on the ballot this November. If approved by the voters, it would bar the state from denying or interfering with a person’s right to choose an abortion and contraceptives.

“We are extremely grateful for the leadership of Pro Tem Atkins, Speaker Rendon, Governor Newsom and the California Legislature to protect access to reproductive care in California. Abortion and family planning clinics have become trusted providers of care to the LGBTQ+ community. LGBTQ+ people, especially those who are transgender, avoid medical care based on legitimate fears of being turned away or facing discrimination and ignorance, and find judgement free care from a clinic that offers abortions, said Equality California Executive Director Tony Hoang. “Reproductive freedom and LGBTQ+ equality are linked by the fight for bodily autonomy. We all seek control over our own bodies. We decide whether and with whom to have intimate relationships, when to start a family, whether to seek gender affirming care to align with our gender identity – We want to live as our true selves as determined by us, not by others.”

“Devastatingly, the Supreme Court has taken away the constitutional right to abortion — a civil right that has been the law of the land for generations and allowed people to make the best health care decisions for them. Thankfully in California, we stand ready to protect these rights, which is exactly what Proposition 1 will do,” said Jodi Hicks, President and CEO of Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California. “We’re proud to stand with Equality California to add the right to an abortion and contraception directly into our state Constitution – and send the message that in California, extreme politicians can’t strip away our fundamental freedoms.”

Equality California, the nation’s largest statewide LGBTQ+ civil rights organization, announced endorsements of 18 pro-equality candidates Thursday, including candidates for the California Board of Equalization and Legislature and 13 openly LGBTQ+ candidates for local offices throughout the state.

The full list of new endorsements can be found below:

California Board of Equalization:

• BOE District 1: Braden Murphy

California Senate:

• Senate District 34: Tom Umberg
• Senate District 38: Catherine Blakespear

California Assembly:

• Assembly District 17: Matt Haney
• Assembly District 64: Elizabeth Alcantar

Local Offices:

• San Leandro Unified School District Board of Trustees, TA 2: James Aguilar
• Covina City Clerk: Drew Aleman
• Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors, District 4: Ken Carlson
• Sonoma County Superintendent of Schools: Dr. Amie Carter
• Palm Springs City Council, District 3: Ron deHarte
• Orange County Assessor: Rick Foster
• Vallejo City Unified School District Board of Education: John Fox
• Sunnyvale City Council, District 5: Richard Mehlinger
• San Dimas City Council, District 2: Eric Nakano
• San Leandro City Council, District 1: Celina Reynes
• Hart Union High School District Board of Trustees, TA 2: Andrew Taban
• Anaheim Union High School District Board of Trustees, TA 1: Billie Joe Wright
• El Cerrito City Council: Carolyn Wysinger

Note: Bold names indicate an openly LGBTQ+ candidate.

For a complete list of Equality California’s 2022 endorsements, please visit eqca.org/elections.

Equality California, the nation’s largest statewide LGBTQ+ civil rights organization, announced endorsements of seventeen pro-equality candidates Friday, including eight openly LGBTQ+ candidates for local office and nine pro-equality allies running for the California Legislature and U.S. House of Representatives.

“Just 67 days out from California’s June 7 primary election, we are proud to endorse these 17 pro-equality champions, including eight openly LGBTQ+ leaders,” said Equality California Executive Director Tony Hoang. “Equality California is committed to building the bench of out LGBTQ+ officials across our state and electing pro-equality allies who will fight alongside our community in Sacramento and Washington, DC. We are confident that each of these candidates will be champions in the fight for full, lived LGBTQ+ equality.” 

The full list of endorsements can be found below:

U.S. House of Representatives:

Congressional District 3: Dr. Kermit Jones

California Senate:

Senate District 28: Lola Smallwood-Cuevas

California Assembly:

Assembly District 10: Eric Guerra 

Assembly District 12: Sara Aminzadeh 

Assembly District 27: Esmeralda Soria

Assembly District 30: Dawn Addis

Assembly District 35: Leticia Perez

Assembly District 39: Andrea Rosenthal

Assembly District 69: Josh Lowenthal

Contra Costa County Clerk-Recorder:

Devin Murphy 

San Diego City Council:

District 2: Dr. Jen Campbell

Pasadena City Council:

District 7: Jason Lyon

Sacramento City Council:

District 1: Nate Pelczar 

San Jose City Council:

District 3: Omar Torres 

Monterey Park City Council:

District 1: Thomas Wong 

Monrovia City Council:

Sashary Zaroyan 

Pasadena Community College Board of Trustees:

District 7: Alton Wang 

Bold names indicate openly LGBTQ+ candidates.

For a complete list of Equality California’s 2022 endorsements, visit eqca.org/elections.

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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