California’s Governor Is Doing What Conservatives Won’t: Protect LGBTQIA+ Youth
We have reported dozens of times how rampant anti-LGBTQIA+ legislation is in the US. In 2023, drag shows, trans youth athletes and gender affirming care have all been at the pointy end of targeted bills.
California remains one of the so-called sanctuary states for LGBTQIA+ populations and Democratic governor Gavin Newsom has signed off on legislation to deepen the state’s protection of queer minors.
Four bills that will help LGBTQIA+ youth
When discussing what politics can do to protect LGBTQIA+ people, the answer is never linear. Broad-spectrum federal laws are prone to senate filibusters and can take years to pass. On a state level, highly specific bills can often make the most impact on the lives of minorities. A prime example: Florida’s slew of anti-LGBTQIA+ legislation.
Governor Newsom signing four protective bills will have a positive and real impact. AB 5 lays out implementation plans for updated cultural competency lessons for educators dealing with LGBTQIA+ students. SB 857 establishes a task force that will seek to identify issues that impact students. AB 223 protects the confidentiality of any underage person petitioning the court to transition. SB 407 will aim to amend the foster care system to ensure LGBTQIA+ children don’t end up with anti-queer carers.
These four bills touch on education, the judiciary and foster care systems. Rather than an overarching singular law, these four bills enact smaller yet meaningful changes for LGBTQIA+ youth and the people designated to protect them.
“California is proud to have some of the most robust laws in the nation when it comes to protecting and supporting our LGBTQ+ community, and we’re committed to the ongoing work to create safer, more inclusive spaces for all Californians,” Newsom says in his statement. “These measures will help protect vulnerable youth, promote acceptance, and create more supportive environments in our schools and communities.”
