“AAUW advocates freedom in definition of self and family, including protection from discrimination and a guarantee of civil rights for all family structures, and vigorous enforcement of and full access to civil and constitutional rights.”
(AAUW: Where We Stand: LGBTQ+ Rights)
Although advocacy is never-ending work, and while it may seem like we are moving in the wrong direction at the federal level, we are fortunate to live in a state that leads by example in the breadth and depth of its fight for LGBTQ+ rights–which are in alignment with AAUW’s positions. California has continued to aggressively defend LGBTQ+ rights by passing shield laws, expanding healthcare access, protecting privacy, and enshrining fundamental protections in the state constitution. By pushing back against federal rollbacks, California has actively combatted discrimination, creating new legal safeguards, more proactive state agencies, and increasingly inclusive public education mandates.
For a shot of inspiration in what may sometimes seem like a sea of negative reporting on civil rights protections, here are some highlights about California protections that can give us all hope:
- California voters cemented marriage equality by passing Proposition 3 in 2024, enshrining the fundamental right to marry for same-sex couples directly in the California Constitution.
- The state affirmed its status as a "Transgender State of Refuge" by passing privacy and shield laws (including CA Senate Bill 450; CA Senate Bill 590; and The Transgender Privacy Act, CA Senate Bill 59, which protect sensitive medical, reproductive, and prescription data from out-of-state prosecution. In addition, the California Department of Justice's Health Equity Unit actively investigates and pursues civil rights violations against LGBTQ+ healthcare consumers, ensuring equitable and gender-affirming care.
- CA Assembly Bill 1078 prohibits school districts from banning instructional materials or library books solely because they include the contributions, roles, or perspectives of diverse groups, including racial minorities and LGBTQ+ individuals.
- California Assembly Bill 727 requires that student ID cards issued by public middle and high schools and public colleges/universities include a 24/7 hotline for the Trevor Project.
- California has a number of laws and regulations that protect transgender, gender diverse, and intersex individuals in various settings, including employment and housing. California prohibits discrimination and harassment in the workplace (Cal. Gov’t Code § 12940(a); Cal. Code Regs.Title 2 § 11034(e)(2), (h), (i)(4)). California also prohibits discrimination in housing. This includes emergency shelter settings (Cal. Gov’t Code § 12955).
- The Commission on State of Hate works proactively to analyze and address hate crimes and hate incidents while developing statewide media campaigns to discourage discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.
- The mission of the California Civil Rights Department (CRD) is to protect the people of California from unlawful discrimination in employment, housing, businesses, and state-funded programs, and from bias-motivated violence and human trafficking.
Further, attacks on transgender people are not isolated. They are part of a broader effort to roll back protections and opportunities for everyone who is marginalized because of gender. As Californians and AAUW members, we must remain vigilant and unwavering in defending the rights, dignity and safety of the LGBTQ+ community, both for the community itself, and to protect the fundamental principles of equality, bodily autonomy, inclusion, and opportunity, principles that feminists have fought to secure for all gender-marginalized people for more than half a century. As the fight for civil rights continues, we can and should draw inspiration from the courage, resilience, joy, and pride of the LGBTQ+ community. For opportunities to learn more and take action to support the LGBTQ+ community, generally, and the transgender community, specifically, please see “Three Steps to Take Action in June" in the June issue of AAUW CA Public Policy News.
