Tony Hoang

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Equality California Announces 2018 Sponsored Legislation, Focusing on the Health and Well-Being of California’s LGBTQ Community

Equality California announced its 2018 sponsored legislative package, including seven Assembly bills and one Senate bill. The proposed legislation focuses on the most vulnerable among the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) community, addressing disparities in health and well-being that stem from longstanding discrimination and lack of acceptance towards the LGBTQ community. “California must continue to serve as a beacon of hope for the rest of the nation,” said Rick Zbur, Executive Director of Equality California. “In Washington and across the country, the LGBTQ community faces attempts to roll back civil rights and cut programs that LGBTQ people depend […]

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Equality California Endorses Candidates in California State Senate and Assembly Races

Today, Equality California announced the endorsement of four pro-equality candidates for California State Senate and Assembly offices. “To continue to advance LGBTQ equality, Equality California endorses candidates for public office who have demonstrated a 100% commitment to fighting for our community” said Rick Zbur, Executive Director of Equality California. “The candidates we have endorsed today will make California stronger by fighting for the rights of all Californians, including those of the LGBTQ community.” The candidates are as follows: Senate District 12 Equality California endorses Anna Caballero for California Senate District 12. Caballero currently represents Assembly District 30 and previously served […]

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Supporters of Wendy Carrillo Launch Homophobic Smear Campaign Against Luis Lopez in Assembly District 51 Race

In response to homophobic campaign tactics by supporters of Wendy Carrillo against openly gay candidate Luis Lopez in the race for California Assembly District 51, HONOR PAC President Mario Ceballos and Equality California Executive Director Rick Zbur issued the following joint statement: “We are disgusted to see yet another homophobic smear campaign rear its ugly head, this time launched by supporters of Wendy Carrillo against openly gay candidate Luis Lopez in the race for California Assembly District 51. In campaign mailers and digital communications, supporters of Wendy Carrillo attacked the integrity not only of Luis Lopez, but also of Equality […]

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Every Single Week, 850 Dreamers Lose Their DACA Protections

In theory, Dreamers — undocumented young people whose parents brought them to the United States before December 31, 2016 and before their 16th birthday — are safe until March 6, 2018 because Trump promised that none would be deported until his six-month deadline for Congress to “fix” the Deferred Action on Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program had passed. But in practice, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has been arresting and detaining Dreamers for weeks now. An unknown, but undoubtedly significant, percentage of people who are caught up in ICE are LGBTQ. This is because, as numerous studies have demonstrated, LGBTQ people […]

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Equality California Endorses Candidates in California Statewide Races

“Our elected officials are crucial to the continuous fight for LGBTQ equality in California and our country,” said Rick Zbur, Executive Director of Equality California. “The candidates we have endorsed are strong allies of the LGBTQ community and have proven records of supporting LGBTQ equality and social justice. We know that each of them will continue to fight for the LGBTQ community in California.” The candidates endorsed by Equality California are as follows: Fiona Ma [State Treasurer] Equality California endorses Fiona Ma for California State Treasurer. Ma currently serves on the State Board of Equalization, and formerly served on the […]

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Lisa Middleton Wins Election to Palm Springs City Council to Become First Openly Transgender Person Elected to Non-Judicial Office in California

Palm Springs City Council Candidate Lisa Middleton will become the first out transgender person elected to a non-judicial office in California with her commanding first place win in today’s election. Additionally, Palm Springs City Council Candidate Christy Holstege will become another LGBTQ voice on the Palm Springs City Council as the winner of the second open seat. Equality California endorsed both candidates and spent thousands of dollars in direct contributions, independent expenditures and member-to-member communications to help elect them. Equality California Executive Director Rick Zbur issued the following statement in response to tonight’s victory: “In light of the repeated attacks […]

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Equality California Legislative Scorecard Holds Legislators Accountable for 2016 LGBT Votes

Equality California today released its Annual Report and Legislative Scorecard for 2016, giving a snapshot of the organization’s programs and achievements in 2016 and rating lawmakers on how they voted on Equality California’s highest priority legislation. The Annual Report documents Equality California’s robust growth over past three years, from a total revenue of $2.0 million in 2014 to $3.9 million in 2015 to $6.4 million in 2016. It also details Equality California’s many achievements in 2016, including the passage of 8 pieces of legislation in Sacramento that advance LGBT equality and social justice. Our annual report highlights our work to […]

Bill to Modernize Discriminatory HIV Criminalization Laws Passes First Major Hurdle

A bill that would modernize California’s laws that criminalize and stigmatize people living with HIV today cleared its first major legislative hurdle. The Senate Public Safety Committee approved Senate Bill (SB) 239 by a vote of 5-2. The bill is authored by Sen. Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) and Asm. Todd Gloria (D-San Diego) and cosponsored by the ACLU of California, APLA Health, Black AIDS Institute, Equality California, Lambda Legal and Positive Women’s Network – USA. The organizations are part of Californians for HIV Criminalization Reform (CHCR), a broad coalition of people living with HIV, HIV and health service providers, civil […]