State

The Assembly Accountability and Administrative Review Committee on April 30 voted with bi-partisan support to pass Assemblymember David Chiu’s Assembly Bill 959, a bill that would move California public policy closer towards meeting the needs of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) communities. “Excluding LGBT communities from statewide collected data keeps these individuals and the health disparities they face invisible to the state,” said Assemblymember David Chiu. “AB 959 will ensure that our LGBT communities count.” AB 959, the LGBT Disparities Reduction Act, is sponsored by Equality California (EQCA) and requires specified state agencies relating to health and well-being […]

On April 22, AB 827, authored by Assemblymember Patrick O’Donnell (D-Long Beach) and sponsored by Equality California, passed out of the Assembly Education Committee with a 6 to 1 vote. The bill would provide more support and a safer learning environment for LGBT students by requiring that schools provide annual training to teachers on various resources available to support LGBT students both at school and in the local community. “Equality California sponsored AB 827, which is authored by Assemblymember O’Donnell, because this legislation will enable teachers and school administrators to foster a supportive school environment for all students, including lesbian, […]

Equality California, California’s largest statewide lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender civil rights organization, released the following statement from Rick Zbur, executive director for Equality California, on President Obama’s call for an end to conversion therapy. “Equality California applauds and commends President Obama for his statement calling for an end to ‘conversion therapy,’ the damaging psychological abuse practiced by some mental health professionals who falsely claim that they can change a person’s sexual orientation or gender expression” said Equality California executive director Rick Zbur. “The nation’s leading mental health associations, including the American Psychiatric Association, the American Psychological Association, and the […]

Equality California is pleased to announce the first eight items in its 2015 legislative package which would improve and advance equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Californians and their families. Equality California will announce additional legislation in the coming weeks. In September of 2014, Equality California adopted a new mission statement which is to achieve full and lasting equality, acceptance and social justice for all people in our diverse LGBT communities, inside and outside of California. A key focus of our expanded mission is to address disparities in the health and well-being of LGBT Californians. This expanded mission guides […]

The owner of three of West Hollywood’s most fashionable men’s retail shops announced this week he will close one in order to convert it into America’s first privately owned LGBTQ Center. On Thursday, February 26, the LA Jock Sport retail shop at 7990 Santa Monica Blvd will become “Home”, a privately-funded help center serving the community and its allies by offering free support – including legal, mental health and vocational services – to those in need. It will provide meeting spaces for groups working to advance LGBTQ causes, as well as free wifi, computer access, a screening room, and research […]

Equality California today announced endorsements of Hon. John D’Amico, Hon. John Heilman and Joe Guardarrama for three at-large seats on the West Hollywood City Council. EQCA endorses LGBT candidates in local races who have exhibited exceptional leadership and ongoing commitment to LGBT equality and social justice. Currently serving as Mayor, John D’Amico has served on the West Hollywood City Council since 2011 and has been an active member of the community for 15 years. Former Chair of the West Hollywood Planning Commission, D’Amico has made affordable housing for LGBT seniors and support and safety of transgender people top priorities. A […]

The Human Rights Campaign, the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender civil rights organization, in partnership with the Equality Federation, today released its first national report assessing the status of state legislation affecting LGBT equality across America, including in California. The inaugural State Equality Index reveals that, even with progress on marriage equality, there are extraordinary state-to-state disparities in LGBT non-discrimination protections, including in the workplace, and efforts continue by equality opponents to pass state-level legislation that would sanction discrimination and undermine even minimal existing protections. California is one of 18 states in the country that has explicit state-level […]

  Urloved Photography, based in the Bay Area of Northern California, have announced they will no longer provide wedding photography after refusing service to a same-sex couple.  According to Jezebel’s Mark Shrayber, a gay couple recently sought to hire Urloved owners Nang and Chris Mai, but the Mais responded, “Photographing a gay wedding is not the best match for us.” They offered the couple a referral to another photographer, wishing them “the very best!” The couple complained about the discrimination they experienced — illegal in California — on Facebook, which drew a lot of negative attention to Urloved. The Mais […]

Equality California calls on Young Kim, the candidate challenging Assemblymember Sharon Quirk-Silva in Assembly District 65, to reject and apologize for a misleading mailer sent on her behalf that cynically scapegoats transgender students and plays on unwarranted fears of the electorate. “The mailer supporting Young Kim blatantly lies about the law and scapegoats lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender kids. Throughout this campaign, Kim has engaged in the same dishonest tactics in an attempt to win votes,” said Rick Zbur, executive director of Equality California. “As a mother and former teacher, Assemblymember Sharon Quirk-Silva has been a staunch advocate for all […]

A Southern California school district has settled a government claim that it discriminated against a transgender student who said she was forbidden to wear makeup, was harassed by other children and was encouraged to change schools, it was announced Tuesday. The Downey Unified School District agreed to give the teenager access to the same facilities and activities as other female students, including athletic tryouts and district-sponsored overnight events, according to a statement from the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights. Without acknowledging any violations of federal law, the district southeast of Los Angeles also agreed to ensure that […]