Protests & Advocacy

Vallejo-Benicia Indivisible No Kings rally on June 14 at Unity plaza had hundreds in attendance!

There are weekly protest starting this Saturday to replace the Tesla Takedowns it will be near the Home Depot on Admiral Callaghan at 11am. Hope you can join us!

Here’s the song Will taught those gathered.

June 14th (flag day) at noon back at the County Building at Texas St & Jefferson.

Next HANDS OFF! Fairfield, every Thursday afternoon from 5:00 to 6:30 pm at the corner of Pennsylvania Street & Travis Blvd. (in front of Garamendi’s office).

The Fairfield Hands Off group has a Facebook page you should join!

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1197790722132920

This is a nationally organized event and your participation matters. Bring your signs, your friends and your voices.

(Sponsored by MobilizeUS, hosted by Azonia Haney, public citizen of Fairfield). Contact Azonia Haney to help make it happen at (503) 419-8469 or handsoff.fairfieldca@gmail.com

To register, see more details, and share, go here: https://www.mobilize.us/freedomoverfascism/event/791514/

Vacaville Indivisible’s protest on June 14th goes from 10 am to noon.

Greetings!

The federal civil rights regulation known as the Equal Access Rule (EAR) is under attack. This important protection guarantees access to many housing and homeless services funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation, or marital status. It is vital for the trans community, which faces disproportionate levels of housing insecurity & violence. Unfortunately, the Trump Administration wants to destroy this critical protection, and is seeking yet to repeal it.

As part of our campaign to fight back we hope to elevate stories that highlight the importance of the EAR, and have created the Equal Access Rule Story Collection Portal. If you or someone you know has faced barriers accessing shelter and housing resources based on gender identity, sexual orientation, or marital status, or has benefited from policies which protect equal access to housing services, please check out the portal. We encourage you to share the link or attached flyer with anyone you think might be interested.

Best,

Terri L. Wilder (She/Her), MSW
HIV/Aging Policy Advocate

Equality California

We’ve officially entered Pride month—HAPPY PRIDE! There’s plenty of news to catch up on this week, plus if you’ll be in or near Hollywood this weekend, you can join us at the LA Pride Parade and Festival (see below)! As always, visit our website for everything we’ve covered since the start of the Equality Brief.

Week of Jun 1-Jun 6, 2025:

FBI Actively Targeting Transgender Healthcare Providers:
The FBI is requesting tips from the public on hospitals, clinics, or practitioners who perform affirming surgeries on youth. All studies and findings from reputable medical groups show that surgery for minors is exceedingly rare, and considered on a case-by-case basis. This is another attempt by the federal government to threaten and intimidate transgender youth and their families.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth Confirms Navy Vessel Will Be Stripped of Harvey Milk’s Name: Hegseth and the Navy announced this week—the start of Pride month—that the USNS Harvey Milk, a fleet replishment oiler, would be renamed. The ship currently bears the name of the legendary LGBTQ+ civil rights leader and San Francisco Supervisor who was brutally murdered in 1978. No reason was given for the change.
Federal Judge Dismisses Case of Gay California Immigrant ‘Disappeared’ by ICE:
Andry Hernandez Romero, a gay makeup artist who fled hate crimes in Venezuela only to be deported to a Salvadoran supermax prison by ICE, was dealt a blow this week with the dismissal of his asylum case. The Immigrant Defenders Law Center plans to appeal the case to the Board of Immigration Appeals.
Data Collection on Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity Ceasing at Government Agency: The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced it would no longer collect data on sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI) from state Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) agencies.
Proposed Trump FY2026 Budget Drastically Slashes HIV/AIDS Funding:
The Trump Administration’s FY2026 budget proposes devastating cuts to HIV/AIDS funding, including a $70 million cut to the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program. It also ends research into HIV treatment and prevention services and eliminates HOPWA (Housing Opportunities for People With AIDS).
California AG Bonta Files Amicus Brief in Trans Military Ban Case:
Attorney General Rob Bonta, alongside 20 other AGs, filed an amicus brief in the case of Shilling v. Trump, a lawsuit filed by GLAD Law and the ACLU challenging Trump’s executive order prohibiting transgender people from serving in the military.

STATE LEGISLATIVE UPDATE 📄 🏛️

Many of EQCA’s sponsored bills advanced off the Assembly or Senate floor this week:
AB 82 (Ward) – Health Data Privacy and Safety
AB 554 (González) – PrEPARE Act
AB 678 (Lee) – LGBTQ+ Safe and Inclusive Housing
AB 908 (Solache) – LGBTQ+ Inclusion & Fair Treatment in Schools (LIFT) Act
AB 1084 (Zbur) – The Transgender Records Act
SB 59 (Wiener) – The Transgender Privacy Act
SB 497 (Wiener) – Transgender State of Refuge

PRIDE EVENTS 🏳️‍🌈 🏳️‍⚧️

Equality California will be marching in the Los Angeles Pride Parade on Sunday, June 8 from 9:00AM-12:00 PM. Visit the link above to sign up and join us—and to get a free Equality California t-shirt!
We’re also hosting three Pride Parties this year in Los Angeles (coming up on Wednesday, June 11), San Francisco, and San Diego. Buy your tickets today—General Admission and VIP both available—and celebrate queer joy with us!

We’re committed to keeping you informed and providing you with the latest news and resources. Our hub also provides guidance and resources from our national and state partners, our official statements, and opportunities to take action and fight back. Learn more on our website.

Happy Pride!
— Rick-Arlo

Rick-Arlo Yah Lira
Associate Director of Donor Relations
Pronouns: he/him/él

Will, There was a major decision from the Supreme Court this week that was devastating for transgender rights, and some other news that also hits close to home for our community. That said, we’re committed to finishing out this Pride Month with celebrations of queer joy and getting our state legislation across the finish line.

To view previous news items from the Equality Brief, visit our website.

Week of Jun 15-Jun 21, 2025:With Skrmetti Ruling, Supreme Court Upholds Discriminatory Transgender Youth Healthcare Ban:
In a devastating 6-3 ruling, the Supreme Court upheld Tennessee’s discriminatory ban on healthcare for transgender youth. The case, Skrmetti v. United States, brought by a doctor and three affirming TN families, argued that the ban violates the Constitution’s Equal Protection clause because the prohibited treatments are allowed when undertaken for other types of care. Read our statement here.Trump Administration Will Shut Down National LGBTQ+ Youth Suicide Hotline:
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) announced this week that it would cease operating the LGBTQ+ youth services option of the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline effective July 17. Advocates called the decision cruel and callous, especially during Pride Month.

Note: Non-government funded crisis lines for LGBTQ+ youth are still available. The Trevor Project hotline for LGBTQ+ youth is 866-488-7386, or text ‘START’ to 678678. Trans Lifeline, for TGI individuals, can be reached at 877-565-8860.Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s Discriminatory Passport Policy Blocked in Court:
A federal judge in Massachusetts on Tuesday blocked the Trump Administration — namely Secretary Marco Rubio’s State Department — from refusing to process and issue passport applications for transgender and nonbinary people in accordance with their gender identity. U.S. District Judge Julia Kobick expanded a preliminary injunction she had initially enforced in April, ruling that the policy likely discriminates on the basis of sex and violates the Constitution’s 5th Amendment.STATE LEGISLATIVE UPDATE 📄 🏛️Three Equality California-sponsored bills passed the Assembly Judiciary Committee this week: SB 59 (Wiener): The Transgender Privacy Act, SB 450 (Menjivar): LGBTQ+ Adoption Protections, and SB 497 (Wiener): Transgender State of Refuge.PRIDE EVENTS 🏳️‍🌈 🏳️‍⚧️You’ve still got two more chances to attend a Pride Party this year in San Francisco (June 24 — NEXT WEEK!) and San Diego (July 16). Buy your tickets today—General Admission and VIP both available—and celebrate queer joy with us! We’re committed to keeping you informed and providing you with the latest news and resources. Our hub also provides guidance and resources from our national and state partners, our official statements, and opportunities to take action and fight back. Learn more on our website.

Thank you,
— Tom

Tom Temprano
Managing Director
Pronouns: he/him/his

Will,

Like everyone else, I’m horrified, enraged, and deeply disturbed by what’s happening in Los Angeles.

The presence of ICE and the Department of Homeland Security — here conducting cruel immigration raids — is a dark cloud over daily life. And Donald Trump’s decision to seize control of the California National Guard to assist in these raids is a dangerous and deliberate escalation, intended to terrorize immigrant communities not only in L.A., but across our state.

California is home to millions of immigrants who contribute to our economy, culture and civic life every single day. They deserve to be treated with dignity and humanity—not targeted like criminals in their own neighborhoods.

It is also not lost on me that at this moment, LGBTQ+ immigrants are particularly vulnerable. Many have fled violence and persecution only to be met with federally-sanctioned cruelty here in the United States. These raids risk separating loving families, retraumatizing asylum seekers, and driving LGBTQ+ people further into the shadows—where access to safety, health care, and legal protection is even more limited. I was particularly unnerved to see the arrest and detention of SEIU California President David Huerta, who was simply observing a public protest, and I am glad to see that he has been released from custody.

As a child of immigrant parents, I know firsthand the promise of America. And America is better than this.

Equality California joins Governor Newsom and Attorney General Bonta in calling for an end to National Guard deployment. We condemn the raids that have occurred and are continuing, which are xenophobic and traumatizing to families, individuals, and communities.

We stand in solidarity with immigrant communities across Los Angeles and the state—and we call on every leader, at every level of government, to reject this assault on our values and take urgent action to protect those under threat.

However you are able —and however is safest for you — I urge you to raise your voice and speak up. We cannot allow such authoritarian moves to become our new normal, nor become desensitized.

Stay strong. And stay safe.
—Tony

Tony Hoang
Executive Director
Pronouns: he/him/his

Lawsuit responds to threats by U.S. DOJ if California school districtsdo not certify to banning transgender students from playing on sports teams consistent with their gender identity

OAKLAND – California Attorney General Rob Bonta today filed a pre-enforcement lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Justice (U.S. DOJ) in anticipation of imminent legal retaliation against California’s school systems. Last week, U.S. DOJ issued a letter requesting certification from California school districts that they will not comply with longstanding state anti-discrimination law that provides for the participation in sports for K-12 students consistent with gender identity. Today, the California Department of Education notified U.S. DOJ that the state will not certify to its demands, which would require school districts to violate not only existing state law, but also the U.S. Constitution. In the lawsuit, Attorney General Bonta asks the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California to uphold California’s anti-discrimination law and prevent the Trump Administration from taking retaliatory action, such as withholding or conditioning federal funding, over the state’s refusal to comply with U.S. DOJ’s unlawful demands.

“The President and his Administration are demanding that California school districts break the law and violate the Constitution – or face legal retaliation. They’re demanding that our schools discriminate against the students in their care and deny their constitutionally protected rights,” said Attorney General Bonta. “As we’ve proven time and again in court, just because the President disagrees with a law, that doesn’t make it any less of one. As California’s chief legal officer, I’ll always fight to uphold and defend the laws of our state, especially those that protect and ensure the civil rights of the most vulnerable among us.”

Since 2012, it has been the law and policy of California that all persons, regardless of their gender, gender identity, or gender expression, should enjoy equal rights and opportunities, and freedom from discrimination of any kind, in their education. In 2013, the Legislature made clear that these protections specifically encompass school athletics. Similarly, the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF), the statewide governing body for school sports, allows all students to participate in athletics in accordance with their gender identity pursuant to its Bylaw 300.D.

With its recent certification letter, U.S. DOJ seeks to unlawfully upend, through executive decree, California’s longstanding policy of inclusion and anti-discrimination. On June 2, 2025, local educational agencies in California received a letter from U.S. DOJ wrongly asserting that Bylaw 300.D “requires California public high schools to allow male participation in girls’ interscholastic athletics,” and as such, violates the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. The letter demanded that these agencies “certify” that they would not implement Bylaw 300.D by June 9, 2025, “[t]o ensure compliance and to avoid legal liability.”

In the lawsuit, Attorney General Bonta argues that U.S. DOJ has no right to make such a demand. Prevailing Ninth Circuit precedent holds that categorically prohibiting transgender students from participating in athletic programs in accordance with their gender identity violates the Equal Protection Clause. Furthermore, allowing athletic participation consistent with students’ gender identity is squarely within the State’s authority to ensure all students are afforded the benefits of an inclusive school environment, including participation in school sports, and to prevent the serious harms that transgender students would suffer from a discriminatory, exclusionary policy. Acceding to U.S. DOJ’s demands would force California school districts to violate the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment and California’s antidiscrimination laws. While the certification demand letter purports that compliance with the Equal Protection Clause requires the categorical exclusion of transgender girls from girls’ sports, as courts have previously upheld, just the opposite is true: the Equal Protection Clause forbids such policies of total exclusion, as does California law.

You can see the full press release here: Attorney General Bonta Files Pre-Enforcement Lawsuit Amid U.S. DOJ Demands that California Schools Violate State Law and U.S. Constitution | State of California – Department of Justice – Office of the Attorney General

Solano County Represents at the EQCA Lobby Day in Sacramento, March 26th!

Yesterday, we brought nearly 300 community members, partners, and local advocates together in Sacramento for LGBTQ+ Advocacy Day—a chance for people to meet with lawmakers and advocate for legislation that will positively impact the lives of LGBTQ+ Californians.

Equality California is the nation’s largest statewide LGBTQ+ civil rights organization. We bring the voices of LGBTQ+ people and allies to institutions of power in California and across the United States, striving to create a world that is healthy, just, and fully equal for all LGBTQ+ people. We advance civil rights and social justice by inspiring, advocating, and mobilizing through an inclusive movement that works tirelessly on behalf of those we serve. www.eqca.org

The Supreme Court has just issued its ruling in the case of Skrmetti v. United States — and it is devastating for transgender youth and their families.

The Court ruled 6-3 that a discriminatory ban on lifesaving healthcare for transgender youth in Tennessee can remain in effect.

Healthcare decisions should be made between doctors, parents and children. This ruling permits the government to intrude into deeply personal medical decisions. It is a shameful and dangerous setback for transgender youth, their families, and every person who believes in freedom and bodily autonomy.

The Court has chosen politics over people, and is allowing states to strip transgender kids of the care they need to survive.

Under California law, transgender youth still have the right to access medical care, and families and doctors still have the freedom to make their own medical decisions free from political interference. This decision does nothing to change that. Sadly, for families in Tennessee and the 24 other states with similar bans in effect, this decision threatens their well-being, the safety of our communities, and the ability of every family to determine what’s best for them.

Healthcare for transgender youth is supported by every major medical association in the United States. Denying this care is not only medically unsound—it’s cruel. It puts transgender youth at greater risk of depression, anxiety, and suicide, and sends a chilling message that their lives are not worth protecting.

While today’s decision is devastating, it is not the end. There is still strong precedent showing that attacks targeting a minority group based on animus do indeed violate the Equal Protection Clause. We will continue to battle fiercely against Donald Trump and his fellow extremist politicians as they attack the rights and dignity of transgender people and their families. Equality California remains committed to fighting alongside our partners to ensure that every transgender person—especially youth—can access the care they need, regardless of the state they call home.

Transgender people are not alone in this fight. Our community has faced relentless attacks before—Equality California will continue to stand together, fight back, and push forward until every transgender person can live freely, safely, and with dignity.

Now more than ever, your support matters. Make an emergency donation today to stand with transgender youth and fuel the fight for dignity, equality, and care.

Until the work is done,
— Tony

Tony Hoang
Executive Director
Pronouns: he/him/his

This has certainly been one of the more challenging weeks so far in 2025. We know many are hurting and are afraid, angry, and deeply saddened by what is happening in Los Angeles. Earlier this week, we released a statement condemning Donald Trump and the ongoing immigration raids in L.A. We know many are considering attending a protest this weekend — we support your right to speak out peacefully and show up for your community. All we want is for you to make sure you stay safe and are aware of what’s going on around you. The ACLU has a comprehensive Protesters’ Rights Guide you can access here. The L.A. Times is also providing free live updates on the situation, which you can view here. To view previous news items from the Equality Brief, visit our website.

Week of Jun 8-Jun 13, 2025:Children’s Hospital Los Angeles to Shutter Transgender Youth Healthcare Programs:
CHLA announced on Thursday that it would be closing its Center for Transyouth Health and Gender Affirming Care Clinic as of July 22. Per the hospital, the decision was made due to threats of Donald Trump and various governmental agencies to withhold funding. Legal action is expected, but in the meantime, nearly 2,000 youth and families will be affected. Read our statement here.California Senator Alex Padilla Forcibly Removed from DHS Briefing:
California Senator Alex Padilla was forcibly removed from a public briefing — even after identifying himself as a U.S. Senator — featuring DHS Secretary Kristi Noem after attempting to ask questions regarding ongoing immigration operations in Los Angeles. The Senator was forced to the ground and handcuffed, leading many of his Senate colleagues to speak out on the floor and lawmakers across the country to condemn what happened.Trump Anti-DEI Orders Blocked in Court:
A federal judge on Monday blocked several of President Donald Trump’s executive orders that have threatened federal funding to nonprofits that primarily service LGBTQ+ communities. District Judge Jon Tigar issued a preliminary injunction halting three of Trump’s anti-DEI and anti-transgender executive orders. Nine nonprofits around the country had sued the Trump administration, calling its actions unconstitutional.Anti-Transgender Medical Care Legislation Advances in Congress:
The House Judiciary Committee advanced the Protect Children’s Innocence Act, a bill sponsored by virulently anti-LGBTQ+ Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene [R-GA] which subjects doctors who provide gender-affirming care to a punishment of up to 10 years in prison. The bill would also subject people who “facilitate” transport of a minor to receive such care to 10 years prison time.Congressional Probe Threatens 200+ Nonprofits; Blames Them for ‘Incentivizing Border Crossings’: The House Homeland Security Committee sent letters to more than 200 nonprofit organizations to inform them of a Congressional probe into any federally-funded activities that “incentivized millions of inadmissible aliens to cross our borders” during the Biden Administration. The Committee’s letter called out the LA-based Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA) by name and said it has been linked to the far-left, anti-law enforcement riots in Los Angeles.CHIRLA executive director Angelica Salas responded by pointing to the organization’s long history of peaceful organizing and community involvement.Trump Threatens to Pull Federal Education Funding From California:
The Trump administration is considering cutting federal education funding to California as Donald Trump continues to feud with the state over a number of issues, from ongoing immigration raids across Los Angeles to inclusive policies for transgender kids in sports. The nearly $8 billion in federal funding supports programs including those for low-income students and students with disabilities.STATE LEGISLATIVE UPDATE 📄 🏛️The Senate and Assembly’s budget agreement restores more than $40 million in previously proposed budget cuts to the California Department of Public Health’s Office of Health Equity (CDPH-OHE). The Governor’s May Revision of the 2025–26 State Budget had proposed eliminating funding for several groundbreaking health initiatives; the cuts would rescind funding that has already been awarded to over 68 community-based organizations working directly with underserved LGBTQ+ populations statewide. We urge Governor Newsom to adopt the Legislature’s budget and ensure this critical funding is restored in the final approved 2025–26 State Budget.PRIDE EVENTS 🏳️‍🌈 🏳️‍⚧️Our LA Pride Party on Wednesday, June 11 was a success! You’ve still got two more chances to attend a Pride Party this year in San Francisco (June 24) and San Diego (July 16). Buy your tickets today—General Admission and VIP both available—and celebrate queer joy with us! We’re committed to keeping you informed and providing you with the latest news and resources. Our hub also provides guidance and resources from our national and state partners, our official statements, and opportunities to take action and fight back. Learn more on our website.

Stay safe, stay alert, and stay focused.
— Tony

Tony Hoang
Executive Director
Pronouns: he/him/his

6/18/25

Equality California Condemns Supreme Court Decision Upholding State Ban on Gender-Affirming Care for Transgender Youth

Washington, D.C. — Equality California released the following statement from Executive Director Tony Hoang in response to the Supreme Court’s 6-3 ruling in the case of Skrmetti v. United States, which upheld Tennessee’s ban on lifesaving healthcare for transgender youth.

“Healthcare decisions should be made between doctors, parents and children. This ruling permits the government to intrude into deeply personal medical decisions. It is a shameful and dangerous setback for transgender youth, their families, and every person who believes in freedom and bodily autonomy.

The Court has chosen politics over people, and is allowing states to strip transgender kids of the care they need to survive.

As Justice Sotomayor stated in her dissent, ‘The majority subjects a law that plainly discriminates on the basis of sex to mere rational-basis review. By retreating from meaningful judicial review exactly where it matters most, the Court abandons transgender children and their families to political whims…It also authorizes, without second thought, untold harm to transgender children and the parents and families who love them. Because there is no constitutional justification for that result, I dissent.’

Equality California remains committed to fighting alongside our partners to ensure that every transgender person—especially youth—can access the care they need, regardless of the state they call home.

Until the work is done.”

Equality California on Decision by Children’s Hospital Los Angeles to Shutter Transgender Youth Healthcare Programs LOS ANGELES — Equality California released the following statement from Executive Director Tony Hoang in response to the decision by Children’s Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA) to close its Center for Transyouth Health and Development and Gender-Affirming Care program effective July 22: “Children’s Hospital Los Angeles has turned its back on the very values of care, compassion and evidence-based medicine that it claims to uphold. By shutting down its transgender healthcare services, CHLA is abandoning hundreds of transgender youth and their families—not out of medical necessity, but because of political pressure.

Make no mistake—this decision was made under direct threat from Donald Trump, who is weaponizing the Department of Justice, the Department of Health and Human Services, the FBI, and other federal agencies — including the Federal Trade Commission and the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services—to bully healthcare providers into discriminating against transgender people.

Denying equal access to care is illegal under California law, and it must not go unchallenged. California has a long history of standing up and defending the civil rights of minority and underrepresented communities. We hope and expect that legal action will be taken to uphold the basic dignity and respect that transgender youth and their families deserve.

Equality California will not stand by as CHLA, or any other healthcare system, abandons our community to appease far-right extremists. We will fight to ensure every transgender young person in California—no matter their zip code—can access the care they need and deserve.”Transgender healthcare has been endorsed by every legitimate medical group in the nation, including the American Medical Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics, which call such care “essential and lifesaving.” Multiple studies show that transgender youth who have access to such care are at lower risk of self-harm and are more likely to have positive experiences at school and in society.###

May 21, 2025. eqca.org/news
MEDIA CONTACT: Tom Temprano
MOBILE: (213) 355-3057 EMAIL: press@eqca.org

LGBTQ+ Leaders Urge California Lawmakers to Restore Devastating Cuts to Health Equity Programs

$31 Million Slashed from LGBTQ+ Health Programs in Governor’s Budget Threatens Critical Services Across the State

SACRAMENTO, CA – A broad coalition of leading LGBTQ+ advocacy organizations including Equality California, the Los Angeles LGBT Center, the California LGBTQ+ Health and Human Services Network, TransLatin@ Coalition, Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California, and more are calling on the Legislature to restore more than $31 million in proposed budget cuts to the California Department of Public Health’s Office of Health Equity (CDPH-OHE), which would eliminate dozens of programs serving LGBTQ+ communities across the state.

The Governor’s May Revise for the 2025-26 State Budget proposes to eliminate two major CDPH-OHE initiatives: the California Reducing Disparities Project (CRDP) and the Gender Health Equity Section (GHES). The move would rescind funding already awarded through existing contracts to more than 68 contracted community-based organizations across California—more than half of which focus on LGBTQ+ populations, including trans, nonbinary, and BIPOC communities.

“The Governor’s proposal to eliminate funding for several vital programs at OHE is deeply troubling and would have devastating consequences for LGBTQ+ Californians, immigrants, and communities of color,” said Equality California Executive Director Tony Hoang. “It would force Equality California and many of our LGBTQ+ partner organizations to shut down trusted, culturally competent programs that are already saving lives across the state. As a state that has long claimed national leadership on equity and inclusion, California must double down on that commitment, not abandon the people who need its support most.”

The proposed cuts include grant programs that were created with explicit legislative direction and funded by the Legislature in previous budget cycles. These include programs supporting LBTQ health equity, LGBTQ+ foster youth, and access to reproductive healthcare. The grants fund grassroots mental health services, trauma-informed care, peer support, and capacity-building in underserved regions and communities too often overlooked by mainstream systems.

“These cuts come at a time when LGBTQ+ communities are already facing national rollbacks, from Medicaid slashes and HIV treatment cuts to bans on gender-affirming care and shrinking access to mental health services,” said Dannie Ceseña, MPH, Director of the California LGBTQ+ Health and Human Services Network. “With trauma mounting from political attacks, California should be leading, not cutting lifelines. Slashing nearly half of the Office of Health Equity’s budget, the only state office specifically dedicated to addressing health disparities, breaks trust.”

During yesterday’s Senate and Assembly Budget Subcommittee hearings, legislators asked CDPH for clarification on the rationale and transparency of these cuts. LGBTQ+ and reproductive justice organizations have also organized community members and health equity advocates to speak out at upcoming budget hearings and submit public comments in opposition to these harmful cuts.

“Governor Newsom’s proposed cuts to the LGBTQ+ Health Equity Fund are a moral failure and a betrayal of California’s most vulnerable,” said Joe Hollendoner, CEO, Los Angeles LGBT Center. “Stripping lifesaving funding from over 68 community organizations—especially those serving LBTQ women, trans, and nonbinary people—is indefensible. These programs shouldn’t be viewed as budget relief; they’re staffed, trusted, and saving lives. California must fully restore and expand this initiative. Our state’s legacy of health justice is at stake—and our communities cannot be left behind.”

“In this critical moment, California must double down, not retract, its efforts to advance health equity and reduce health disparities,” said Jodi Hicks, CEO and President of Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California. “As proud providers of community based health education programs in under-resourced areas throughout the state, the Planned Parenthood affiliates in California are dismayed by this proposal to eliminate critical CDPH OHE programs. These proposed cuts would impact real lives and be a departure from California’s commitment to eliminating gender-based health disparities and improving the health and well-being of Californians.”

The coalition of LGBTQ+ and reproductive justice organizations is urging the Legislature to fully restore funding to the Office of Health Equity’s California Reducing Disparities Project and Gender Health Equity Section in the final 2025-26 State Budget. With more than 68 community programs on the line, legislators must act swiftly to prevent irreparable harm to California’s LGBTQ+ communities. Equity cannot be protected in name only; it must be backed by the resources to deliver real impact.

“These aren’t just cuts—they’re an act of erasure,” said Bamby Salcedo, President and CEO of The TransLatin@ Coalition. “The state is pulling funding from programs that were already promised, already contracted, and already making an impact in our communities. You can’t claim to champion equity while dismantling the only infrastructure built to support TGI people. These programs are lifelines and we need the legislature to restore and expand these services.”

The coalition’s full public letter and list of organizational signatories will be submitted to the Legislature this week.

I wanted to flag a helpful new resource from the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) that may be of interest to you.
DHCS has just published new guidance reaffirming that all medically necessary gender-affirming care services for Medi-Cal members are covered and Medi-Cal’s policies have not changed. You can access the full guidance here: DHCS Gender-Affirming Care Guidance.

This guidance provides important information that can support community education efforts—particularly in light of escalating federal attacks on transgender healthcare. Please feel free to share this with your networks.

Craig Pulsipher | Legislative Director

Equality California | Equality California Institute

www.eqca.org | @eqca

Attached, please find an updated April 25 version of the Know Your Rights sheet, as it relates to the anti-transgender executive orders.

[April 2025] Anti-Trans EOs_Community Fact Sheet.docx Download

Friends,

The Trump administration is considering a plan to eliminate the CDC’s HIV prevention division — a move that would gut critical services like HIV testing, PrEP access, and condom distribution.

The consequences?
🔴 Higher HIV transmission rates
🔴 Increased healthcare costs — each HIV diagnosis costs $500,000 in lifetime treatment
🔴 Decades of progress erased in the fight to end the epidemic

Now is the time to act! Members of Congress need to hear from you.

CONTACT YOUR CONGRESSMEMBER

📞 Call 202-224-3121 and demand your representatives protect HIV prevention funding.

We can’t let the Trump administration get away with this direct attack on public health and our most vulnerable communities. We must hold our elected officials accountable.

Make your voice heard today.

— Valerie

Valerie Ploumpis
National Policy Director
Pronouns: she/her/hers

Advocates for Transgender Equality Advocacy Invitation

Hey friends,

I’m reaching out to ask for your support in protecting health care access for trans people and DACA recipients. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) proposed rule CMS-9884-P would eliminate federal protections requiring ACA marketplace plans to cover gender-affirming care, jeopardizing essential, life-saving treatments for trans individuals nationwide.

We’re launching the Protect Our Healthcare Campaign to drive comments opposing this harmful rule before the April 11, 2025 deadline. Your organization’s voice is critical in challenging this proposal.

How You Can Take Action:

Submit an Organization Comment:
We’ve created a storytelling-focused comment template for organizations to highlight the real-world impact of this rule. This version is ideal for narrative-driven responses. A more technical template may be available soon if your organization prefers to wait. Organization Comment Template
Mobilize Your Community:You can direct your members to submit personal comments using our individual comment portal. Sharing personal stories is a powerful way to emphasize the harm this rule would cause. Individual Comment Portal
Amplify on Social Media:
We’ve put together a Social Media Kit to help you spread the word, drive engagement, and rally support. Social Media Kit

Comments are due April 11th!!!!

If you have any questions or require additional resources, please don’t hesitate to contact me directly at dojeda@transequality.org. We deeply appreciate your support in this critical effort to protect trans healthcare.

Thank you for standing with us!

In solidarity,

Devon Ojeda Ph.D. (they/he)
Senior National Organizer
Advocates for Transgender Equality
dojeda@transequality.org
Cell: 813.732.4821
transequality.org | @TransEquality | A4TE on Facebook
transformthevote.org

Attorney General Bonta and 12 Attorneys General Issue Joint Statement on Protecting Access to Gender-Affirming Care

News Release

February 4, 2025

OAKLAND – Attorney General Bonta today joined a coalition of 12 attorneys general to reaffirm their commitment to protecting access to gender-affirming care in the face of the Trump Administration’s recent Executive Order. The coalition released the following statement:

“As state attorneys general, we stand firmly in support of healthcare policies that respect the dignity and rights of all people. Health care decisions should be made by patients, families, and doctors, not by a politician trying to use his power to restrict your freedoms. Gender-affirming care is essential, life-saving medical treatment that supports individuals in living as their authentic selves.

The Trump Administration’s recent Executive Order is wrong on the science and the law. Despite what the Trump Administration has suggested, there is no connection between “female genital mutilation” and gender-affirming care, and no federal law makes gender-affirming care unlawful. President Trump cannot change that by Executive Order.

Last week, attorneys general secured a critical win from a federal court that directed the federal government to resume funding that had been frozen by the Trump Administration. In response to the Court’s Order, the Department of Justice has sent a notice stating that “federal agencies cannot pause, freeze, impede, block, cancel, or terminate any awards or obligations on the basis of the OMB memo, or on the basis of the President’s recently issued Executive Orders.” This means that federal funding to institutions that provide gender-affirming care continues to be available, irrespective of President Trump’s recent Executive Order. If the federal administration takes additional action to impede this critical funding, we will not hesitate to take further legal action.

State attorneys general will continue to enforce state laws that provide access to gender-affirming care, in states where such enforcement authority exists, and we will challenge any unlawful effort by the Trump Administration to restrict access to it in our jurisdictions.”

Joining Attorney General Bonta in issuing this statement are the attorneys general of Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Nevada, Rhode Island and Vermont.

You may view the full account of this posting, including possible attachments, in the News & Alerts section of our website at: https://oag.ca.gov/news/press-releases/attorney-general-bonta-and-12-attorneys-general-issue-joint-statement-protecting

Attorney General Bonta Reminds Hospitals and Clinics of Anti-Discrimination Laws Amid Executive Order on Gender Affirming Care

OAKLAND – California Attorney General Rob Bonta today reminded California hospitals and federally-funded healthcare providers of their ongoing obligation under California anti-discrimination law to provide gender affirming care amid confusion resulting from President Trump’s Office of Management and Budget (OMB) directive on freezing or pausing federal funding and his executive order on gender affirming care. Attorney General Bonta also issued a letter putting Children’s Hospital Los Angeles on notice of its obligations under state anti-discrimination law, following reports that the hospital is pausing the initiation of hormonal therapies for all gender affirming care patients under the age of 19 and gender-affirming surgeries on minors.

“California supports the rights of transgender youth to live their lives as their authentic selves,” said Attorney General Bonta. “We will not let the President turn back the clock or deter us from upholding California values. I understand that the President’s executive order on gender affirming care has created some confusion. Let me be clear: California law has not changed, and hospitals and clinics have a legal obligation to provide equal access to healthcare services.”

The California Department of Justice is aware of concerns about gender-affirming care being impacted by recent federal government actions attempting to restrict federal funds to recipients of federal grants, including the availability of federal financial assistance regarding the provision of gender affirming care to minors.

On January 28, 2025, Attorney General Bonta, along with 22 other state attorneys general, filed suit in federal district court to halt the federal government’s illegal efforts to freeze such federal funding. The court issued a temporary restraining order (TRO) on January 31, 2025, prohibiting federal agencies from taking any action that would “pause, freeze, block, cancel or terminate” such funding. As a result of the TRO won by Attorney General Bonta and 22 other state attorneys general, federal agencies must continue to comply with existing grants, awards, and obligations, except as authorized by law.

In a notice sent to federal agencies and filed with the court on Monday, the U.S. Department of Justice (U.S. DOJ) indicated its intent to comply with the court order and affirmed that the TRO blocking the illegal funding freeze applied to all federal funding awards or obligations, including those made to recipients such as hospitals, and federally funded healthcare providers. The U.S. DOJ stated that federal agencies “cannot pause, freeze, impede, block, cancel, or terminate any awards or obligations on the basis of the OMB memo, or on the basis of the President’s recently issued Executive Orders.” As such, the recent executive order pertaining to gender-affirming care for minors does not provide federal agencies with any basis to threaten or revoke federal funding from hospitals and federally funded healthcare providers.

Furthermore, California law, including the Unruh Civil Rights Act, Civil Code section 51 and Government Code section 11135, prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity. Electing to refuse services to a class of individuals based on their protected status, such as withholding services from transgender individuals based on their gender identity or their diagnosis of gender dysphoria, while offering such services to cisgender individuals, is discrimination. California families seeking gender-affirming care, and the doctors and staff who provide it, are protected under state laws.

RESOURCES

California has a number of resources for transgender youth and the broader LGBTQ+ community:

California Department of Justice’s Health Equity and Civil Rights webpage
California Department of Justice’s LGBTQ+ Discrimination Rights webpage
Transgender, Gender Diverse, and Intersex (TGI) Inclusive Care Act
California Department of Health Care Services’ Medi-Cal State Inmate Program and Medi-Cal County Inmate Program webpage
California Civil Rights Department’s The Rights of Employees Who Are Transgender or Gender Nonconforming fact sheet
California Department of Insurance’s Equal Access to Health Insurance: Coverage for Transgender Californians webpage
California Department of Managed Health Care’s TGI Care webpage

If you believe your rights are being violated as part of the enforcement of the President’s executive order, you can file a complaint with the California Attorney General’s Office here or with the California Civil Rights Department here.

A copy of the letter to Children’s Hospital Los Angeles is available here.