State

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State Senate Approves Bill Requiring CSU, Community College Job Candidates to Reveal Sexual Harassment Past

California’s State Senate has approved a measure to require California State University (CSU) and community college academic or administrative job applicants to disclose whether any final administrative or judicial action found them guilty of sexual harassment. “My bill, SB 1439, puts a wrench in the ‘pass the harasser’ cycle that protects predators in our state higher education systems,” said Sen. Marty Block, the measure’s author. “Pass the harasser is a pattern of bad actors leaving a university to seek employment elsewhere when their actions gain notoriety. These harassers get away with it because they don’t tell; hiring committees don’t know […]

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Gov. Jerry Brown Endorses Hillary

 California Gov. Jerry Brown this morning issued an “open letter to Democrats, Republicans, and Independents.” He writes: On Tuesday, June 7, I have decided to cast my vote for Hillary Clinton because I believe this is the only path forward to win the presidency and stop the dangerous candidacy of Donald Trump. I have closely watched the primaries and am deeply impressed with how well Bernie Sanders has done. He has driven home the message that the top one percent has unfairly captured way too much of America’s wealth, leaving the majority of people far behind. In 1992, I attempted […]

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California Legislature Approves Bill Allowing Donation of HIV-positive Organs

The California legislature passed a bill that would allow organ transplants between HIV-positive donors and HIV-positive recipients.  Senate Bill (SB) 1408, authored by Sen. Ben Allen (D-Santa Monica) and co-sponsored by Equality California, AIDS Project Los Angeles, the Los Angeles LGBT Center, and Positive Women’s Network-USA, would bring state law in line with federal law. The bill passed both the Assembly and the Senate unanimously. “These lifesaving surgeries have been proven safe and are now allowable under federal law,” said Sen. Allen.  “There is no reason for state law to maintain an antiquated prohibition on organ donation by HIV-positive persons.  […]

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‘Out at the Park’ becomes ‘Nightmare at Petco Park’

Last night’s annual ‘Out at the Park’ event turned into ‘Nightmare at Petco Park’ as the San Diego Gay Man’s Chorus took to the field to sing the National Anthem. Instead of their voices, fans of the Padres and Los Angeles Dodgers heard a recorded voice of a woman singing the anthem, and when the group stepped off the field at the end of the song it was to taunts such as, “You sing like a girl,” according to a statement on the San Diego Gay Men’s Chorus Facebook page. Within hours the Padres had apologized on Twitter calling the […]

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Thousands Of Undocumented Kids Can Now Enroll In Health Care Coverage

This week, more than 170,000 undocumented children became eligible to enroll in state-funded health insurance plans in California, going beyond Obamacare to allow more immigrants to have access to comprehensive health services for the first time in the state. The “Health4AllKids” health care expansion allows low-income children under the age of 19 to receive affordable care under Medi-Cal, the name for California’s Medicaid program, regardless of their immigration status. This will allow undocumented kids to access the full scope of Medi-Cal benefits — such as regular preventive and primary care, dental, and mental health services, as well as behavioral health […]

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Equality California Sponsors Advocacy Day in the California Capitol

Dozens of LGBT activists and allies fanned out across the California Capitol Monday, meeting with legislators in support of ten bills that form Equality California’s 2016 legislative package and priorities.  Each of the priority bills would significantly improve the lives of LGBT Californians in various ways and stand in direct contrast to laws in North Carolina, Mississippi and elsewhere that target LGBT people for discrimination. “We are heartened to see so many faces eager and willing to create a more inclusive and fair society,” said Asm. Susan Talamantes Eggman (D-Stockton), chair of the LGBT Legislative Caucus. “The LGBT community is […]

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Travel Ban and All-gender Restroom Bills Clear California Assembly

Two Equality California-sponsored bills advancing the civil rights of LGBT people in California and across the country were approved by the California Assembly Monday.  Assembly Bill (AB) 1887 was approved by a vote of 54-21 and AB 1732 passed by 55-19. AB 1887, authored by Asm. Evan Low (D-Campbell), would prohibit state-funded or sponsored travel to a state that, after June 26, 2015, has enacted a law that voids or repeals existing state or local protections against discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression, or has enacted a law that authorizes or requires discrimination against same-sex […]

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Trans Woman Settles Human Rights Case with City of Hamilton

The City of Hamilton reached an agreement to settle a human rights application involving a trans woman who was denied access to the women’s washroom at the MacNab Bus Terminal in Hamilton by a City employee. The trans woman was provided access to the family washroom. The City of Hamilton recognizes the right of trans people set out in Ontario’s Human Rights Code which includes the right to access facilities in accordance with their self-identified gender identity. The City is committed to communicating that a trans person will not be required to use a separate facility because of the preferences […]

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Equality California Announces 2016 Legislative Package

Equality California Monday announced seven bills comprising its 2016 legislative package. “Each of our sponsored bills advances a key portion of the mission we unveiled in 2014,” said Rick Zbur, executive director of Equality California. “Laws surrounding HIV transmission continue to stigmatize people living with HIV and must be modernized.  LGBT people are targets of discrimination both inside and outside of California. LGBT kids are up to four times more likely to attempt suicide than their non-LGBT peers. Transgender and gender non-conforming people face harassment and violence, often when just trying to use the restroom. These bills begin to address these disparities in LGBT […]

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Statewide Movement Launched to Promote Safety and Respect for the Transgender Community

Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti Monday joined individuals from the transgender community, statewide LGBT organizations, local officials, civil rights groups, businesses, faith-based leaders and community members to launch Transform California – a statewide movement founded by Equality California and the Transgender Law Center to promote respect, understanding and safety for the transgender community. As part of the effort, coalition members signed a Transform California pledge – opposing discrimination against transgender people. “California and its residents are known around the world for standing up for the values of tolerance and equality,” said Mayor Eric Garcetti. “Trans people should have the freedom to live their lives, to […]

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