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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!

Other local and regional gatherings:

Wednesdays from 4:15 to 5:15 pm in front of the Vallejo Ferry building.

Thursdays at 5 pm in Benicia, Vallejo-Benicia Indivisible hosts flag waving by the Gazebo in City Park (Military & First Street, Benicia).  https://www.facebook.com/events/1077820594478484/1077820677811809/?active_tab=about

Sundays at noon in Benicia, Vallejo-Benicia Indivisible hosts flag waving by the Gazebo in City Park (Military & First Street, Benicia).  https://www.facebook.com/events/1077820594478484/1077820677811809/?active_tab=about

Stand Up for Democracy Vallejo: This a local Indivisible event! Stand Up For Democracy…..continue the momentum !! Benicia-Vallejo Indivisible will continue their weekly Saturday protest. Bring a friend, a sign, and your voices! Saturdays at 11 am at Vallejo Plaza, Admiral Callaghan Lane & Plaza Drive, Vallejo.  Link to sign up.

Fight for Our Democracy and Constitution Vacaville:  Link to sign up.

We have a real shot at making this one of the largest peaceful protests in modern American history. 

Joint Statement from California Health & Human Services Leaders on Federal Government’s Attack on Health Care for Transgender Americans

In response to the Trump administration’s announcement that it would move to restrict access to health care for transgender Californians, leaders of the California Health & Human Services Agency (CalHHS)—including CalHHS Secretary Kim Johnson, Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) Director Michelle Baass, Department of Managed Health Care (DMHC) Director Mary Watanabe, and Department of Public Health (CDPH) Director and State Public Health Officer Dr. Erica Pan—released the following joint statement:


“Today the federal government made clear its plans to restrict access to this essential and lifesaving health care. When youth and adults can access health care, their quality of life improves and rates of depression, distress, and suicide decrease. This care is consistent with nationally recognized, evidence-based clinical practice guidelines, including those from the World Professional Association for Transgender Health, the Endocrine Society, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Psychological Association and other leading medical and mental health organizations. 


“We want to be clear and remind California’s health plans and providers, as well as transgender youth and their families concerned by this action, that proposed rules are not final and do not carry the force of law. California laws protecting health care for transgender individuals remain in full effect, and providers and health plans must continue to comply with them. 


“In California, we are committed to ensuring all people have access to the medically necessary, evidence-based care, that will allow them not only to survive but thrive. We will continue to stand with transgender youth, their families and health care providers, and we will continue to fight the federal administration’s cruel and inhumane policies.”


Background on California Actions to Support All Youth:
If a California health plan member is having issues accessing medically necessary care, they should first file a complaint, sometimes called a grievance or appeal, with their health plan. If the member does not agree with their health plan’s response or the plan takes more than 30 days to address the problem in non-urgent cases, the Department of Managed Health Care (DMHC) Help Center can work with the member and health plan to resolve the issue. If a health plan member is experiencing an urgent issue, they can contact the DMHC Help Center immediately at www.DMHC.ca.gov. For additional support, DHCS offers assistance to help Medi-Cal members resolve problems with Medi-Cal managed care plan services. Medi-Cal members of all ages have access to medically necessary gender affirming care services.  Medi-Cal managed care plans and county behavioral health plans are required to implement transgender, gender-diverse, and intersex training for staff to promote respectful, inclusive, and evidence-based care. Additionally, managed care plans must identify in-network providers who offer gender affirming service, and both plan types must track, and report grievances related to inclusive care. Behavioral health programs provide a broad range of services, including specialty mental health and substance use disorder treatment. DHCS also administers statewide prevention and youth programs through its Prevention and Youth Branch, which supports early intervention, youth empowerment, and mental wellness. Programs such as California Friday Night Live and Elevate Youth California invest in youth leadership, mental health awareness, and substance use prevention, with a focus on reaching youth and communities disproportionately unable to access resources and care. The Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative expands behavioral health services for children and youth. California law prohibits health plans from denying health care or discriminating against individuals because of the individual’s gender, including gender identity or gender expression. SB 497 (Wiener, 2025) provides further protections and prohibits providers and health plans from releasing information related to gender-affirming care even if they receive a subpoena from the federal government or another state. In 2023, California implemented the Transgender, Gender Diverse, and Intersex (TGI) Inclusive Care Act which protects the right of Californians to access Gender-Affirming health care services. Under Senate Bill (SB) 923 (Wiener, 2022), the DMHC established the Department’s TGI Working Group. The Working Group developed a quality standard for patient experience to measure cultural competency related to the TGI community and recommended a trans-inclusive training curriculum to be used by health care plan staff who are in direct contact with health plan members in the delivery of health care services. The DMHC issued an All Plan Letter to health plans with guidance regarding SB 923 and the TGI recommendations.  Additionally, DMHC launched a webpage dedicated to educating Californians on their health care rights and access to gender-affirming health care services. This online resource includes frequently asked questions on TGI care, the types of medically necessary gender-affirming services typically covered by a health plan, fact sheets on navigating your health plan, how to file a complaint or seek an Independent Medical Review (IMR) with the DMHC, and additional useful resources. 

Attorney General Bonta Opposes Trump Administration’s Proposals Aimed at Further Restricting Access to Gender-Affirming Care.

OAKLAND — California Attorney General Rob Bonta today issued a statement opposing two newly proposed rules by the Trump Administration: One that would prohibit federal reimbursement for gender-affirming care for minors in Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), and another that would prohibit providers who perform gender-affirming care on minors from participating in the Medicaid and Medicare programs.“These proposed rules are the Trump Administration’s latest attempt to strip Americans of the care they need to live as their authentic selves,” said Attorney General Bonta. “These rules are not only cruel, but they’re unlawful. It’s important to note these proposals are far from final. If the Trump Administration puts forth final rules similar to these proposals, we stand ready to use every tool in our toolbox to prevent them from ever going into effect. Despite these proposals, medically necessary gender-affirming care remains protected by California law. We will fight these proposed rules to ensure Californians maintain access to the medical care they need to thrive.” The Medicaid and CHIP Reimbursement Rule would stop two federal healthcare programs — Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) — from paying for medically necessary gender-affirming healthcare for anyone under the age of 18 under Medicaid and under age 19 under CHIP. The “Condition of Participation” Rule would unlawfully prohibit providers of medically necessary gender-affirming care from participating in the Medicaid and Medicare programs. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is required to accept public comments on the proposed rules for 60 days. After that, HHS may publish Final Rules that would become effective 60 days later, but only if no court blocks the Final Rules from going into effect. 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. Refusing 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 discriminatory. Californians seeking gender-affirming care, and the doctors and staff who provide it, are protected under state law. Medi-Cal, California’s Medicaid program, covers gender-affirming care for minors. A full explanation of these rights and legal protections can be found in our Know Your Rights statement here. Attorney General Bonta continues to stand firmly in support of healthcare policies that respect the dignity and rights of all people and has worked tirelessly to protect the LGBTQ+ community against unlawful threats from the Trump Administration. Earlier this month, he joined a coalition of 20 attorneys general in filing an amicus brief opposing the U.S. Department of Justice’s (U.S. DOJ) subpoena targeting the release of private medical records, including patient records, related to gender-affirming care at Children’s Hospital Colorado. In October, he filed similar amicus briefs opposing U.S. DOJ’s subpoena for patient records related to gender-affirming care at Boston Children’s Hospitaland Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. And in August, he co-led a multistate coalition in filing a lawsuit that challenges the Trump Administration’s executive order that attempts to restrict the provision of medically necessary gender-affirming care for individuals under the age of 19 by threatening providers with civil and criminal prosecution under specious legal theories. 
# # #

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-opposes-trump-administration%E2%80%99s-proposals-aimed-further

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 

Know Your Rights: Attorney General Bonta Issues Guidance on Gender-Affirming Care Rights in California

OAKLAND — Amidst escalating attacks against the LGBTQ+ community and gender-affirming care, California Attorney General Rob Bonta today issued guidance outlining protections under California law for medical providers and patients seeking gender-affirming care, as well as obligations for insurers and health plans. California law prohibits healthcare providers and insurers from discriminating or denying healthcare services to a patient for being transgender, nonbinary, gender nonconforming, or intersex, or due to a diagnosis of gender dysphoria. Today’s guidance provides information regarding legal protections and obligations related to gender-affirming care under California law. 

“As the Trump Administration continues its political attacks against our transgender and LGBTQ+ communities, California remains committed to protecting and upholding everyone’s right to access healthcare free from discrimination,” said Attorney General Bonta. “It is critical that you know your rights: In California, state law protects you from discrimination and guarantees access to medically necessary care for everyone, regardless of gender identity. Insurance companies in California have a legal obligation to provide timely, safe, and equitable access to healthcare services, so you can get the support you need.”

In California, you have the right to receive medically necessary gender-affirming care or any other medically necessary healthcare without discrimination. Insurance companies and health plans cannot deny coverage or benefits based on a person’s gender identity or diagnosis of gender dysphoria. Nor can they deny coverage because of inconvenience or inadequate provider networks. If no in-network provider is available within the required time or distance, your insurer must arrange care with an out-of-network provider. Insurance companies also cannot penalize or discriminate against doctors for providing gender-affirming care.

You are Protected from Out-of-State Investigations:

California law protects individuals and families accessing gender-affirming care in our state from other state’s investigation and prosecution. You have the right to receive gender-affirming care in California without fearing that state and local law enforcement will provide your information to aid another state’s investigations into care lawfully performed in California. You have the right to institute a civil action for injunctive, monetary, or other appropriate relief against someone who engages in abusive litigation that infringes on or interferes with gender-affirming care legally performed in California.

Healthcare Practitioners in California are Protected for Providing Lawful, Medically Necessary Gender-Affirming Care: 

Medical boards that certify health professionals cannot deny applications for licensure, or suspend, revoke, or otherwise discipline providers based on the performance, recommendation, or provision of gender-affirming care. Staff privileges cannot be denied or restricted based on any out-of-state action against a healthcare practitioner for providing gender-affirming care.

Additional Protections:

  • California’s Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Long-Term Care Facility Residents Bill of Rights prohibits discrimination against individuals in long-term care facilities based on their actual or perceived sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or HIV status.
  • California requires that foster youth, including transgender, nonbinary, intersex, and gender expansive youth in foster care, have access to medically necessary gender-affirming care, including gender-affirming mental healthcare, based on the prevailing standards of care.
  • Transgender and intersex youth detained in California juvenile facilities have the right to access medical and behavioral health providers qualified to provide care and treatment to transgender and intersex youth.

Obligations of Insurers and Healthcare Plans:

  • Insurers and healthcare plans covered by California law are prohibited from denying an individual a plan contract, health insurance policy, or coverage for a benefit included in the contract or policy, based on a person’s sex. This includes medically necessary gender-affirming care for treating gender dysphoria.
  • Insurers and healthcare plans must also cover medically necessary treatment for gender dysphoria as part of the requirement to cover behavioral health conditions under California law.
  • If an in-network provider is unavailable to provide services according to the geographic and timely access standards, the insurer must arrange for an out-of-network provider to provide the services.
  • An insurance company shall not terminate or refuse to issue or renew professional liability insurance or increase the premium or deductible for healthcare providers based solely on their provision of gender-affirming care, including based on any legal action taken against the provider by another state for providing such care.

RESOURCES 

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

If you believe your rights are being violated, 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 Know Your Rights guidance is available here.

We’re through the holiday season and into the new year, which means it’s back to regularly scheduled programming when it comes to the weekly Equality Brief.

This week has been upsetting, to say the least. I know many people are frightened and angry about what transpired earlier this week in Minneapolis. We must not succumb to apathy or hopelessness in this moment — the LGBTQ+ community has a rich history of protest, speaking out, and standing up for equity. Let us use that as the template for moving forward and holding accountable those who would seek to harm others in the name of “justice.” 

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

📩 TAKE ACTION: Transgender Youth Deserve Access to Healthcare

The federal government is considering two new regulations that would severely limit access to medically necessary health care for transgender youth nationwide. If these rules are finalized, doctors and hospitals across the country could be forced to stop providing this health care to transgender youth altogether — regardless of whether families use public insurance, private insurance, or pay out of pocket. These proposals are not final, and there is still time to stop them. The federal government is accepting public comments until February 17, 2026. Submit your comment today, along with additional resources and information!

Week of Jan. 4-Jan. 10, 2026:

  • Agreement Reached to Pause Anti-Trans HHS Declaration:
    Attorneys General from 22 states have reached an agreement with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to pause enforcement of an unprecedented—and likely unlawful—HHS “declaration” that seeks to restrict access to medically necessary healthcare for transgender young people in every state, including in states like California where this care remains lawful. Under this agreement, HHS cannot enforce the declaration until after a court has had the opportunity to weigh in on the legality of this agency action. This means providers can continue to offer care during this time without the threat of losing their federal funding under the declaration.
  • Negative “Forced Outing” Ruling Placed on Hold by Federal Appeals Court:
    A federal appeals court has temporarily paused a December ruling by a U.S. district judge that would have allowed California teachers to out transgender and nonbinary students without their consent, keeping the state’s existing privacy protections in place while the case is appealed. The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said it has “serious concerns” with the district court’s order, including its decision to certify the case as a class action covering every parent and public school employee in California. The pause means that California school policies aimed at protecting students from being outed against their will can remain in effect while the case proceeds.
  • Assemblymember Mark González Introduces Suicide Prevention Legislation:
    Asm. González — a member of the California Legislative LGBTQ Caucus — has announced new legislation to restore the 988 “Press 3” LGBTQ+ Youth Suicide Crisis Line, a dedicated support lifeline that was discontinued by the Trump administration last year. Before being cut, the dedicated LGBTQ+ youth crisis line had seen 1.5 million contacts since its launch in 2022. 
  • Federal Workers File Suit Over Trump Administration Ban on Transgender Healthcare:
    A group of federal employees has filed a complaint, with support from the Human Rights Campaign, challenging a Trump administration policy that eliminates coverage for medically necessary transgender healthcare in federal employee health insurance plans. The complaint, filed with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, argues that the policy amounts to unlawful sex-based discrimination and asks the Office of Personnel Management to rescind it. Workers from multiple federal agencies — including the State Department, HHS, and the Postal Service — say the change would directly harm them and their families.
  • New House Rules Committee Report Slams Congressional Inaction:
    The Democratic staff of the House Rules Committee has released a new report, entitled “How Donald Trump Stole Congress” which details how Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) has effectively paralyzed Congress in order to submit to the whims of Donald Trump, making the 119th Congress “one of the most closed and restrictive Congresses in American history.” Instead of addressing real issues facing everyday Americans like affordability, healthcare costs, and inflation, Johnson instead has allowed dangerous bills — including those seeking to ban or criminalize healthcare for transgender people — to advance to the floor.
  • Texas Judge Asks SCOTUS to Overturn Obergefell Decision:
    A Texas judge has filed a federal suit to overturn 2015’s landmark Supreme Court marriage equality ruling. This case has been taken up on behalf of a Justice of the Peace who has been refusing to marry same-sex couples, claiming that Obergefell was wrongly decided and that SCOTUS “overstepped” its boundaries.
  • Trump EEOC Seeks to Rescind Workplace Anti-Harassment Protections:
    On December 29, the EEOC requested White House approval to rescind 2024 workplace anti-harassment guidance as a “final rule,” and therefore provide no opportunity for public comment. In response, EEO Leaders — a nonpartisan group of former senior officials from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission — issued a sharp response, charging that the rescission would weaken enforcement of federal antidiscrimination law and deprive employers and workers of guidance for preventing and addressing workplace harassment. The response also stressed that the Supreme Court’s Bostock ruling prohibition on sex discrimination includes sexual orientation and gender identity.
  • California AG Joins Four Colleagues in Lawsuit Challenging $10 Billion Federal Funding Freeze
    Attorney General Rob Bonta and the AGs of four other blue states filed a lawsuitchallenging HHS’s immediate $10 billion freeze in federal funding for programs for low-income households, alleging fraud and access by ineligible immigrants. The AGs seek a block on the funding freeze and a temporary restraining order for HHS’s “extraordinarily overbroad demands for documents and data.” This decision comes after weeks of allegations of fraud in Minnesota’s welfare system, which the Trump administration has repeatedly blamed on the state’s Somali immigrant population.

UPCOMING EVENTS

We’ve set the date for our 2026 LGBTQ+ Advocacy Day in Sacramento: Wednesday, March 25, 2026. Join us at the Capitol for a day of speaking with elected lawmakers about the need to pass pro-equality legislation, and the chance to meet LGBTQ+ advocates and allies from across the state. More details — including logistics, our policy platform, registration and more — will be available in early 2026.

The deadline for January’s Central Valley Leadership Academy has been extended to January 16th! Through a combination of in-person training, mentorship, and opportunity identification, the academy supports LGBTQ+ leaders in becoming effective agents of change. Our first Academy of the year is in Fresno on Sat. January 24-Sun. January 25, 2026. Submit your application today!

Our 2026 Sacramento Equality Awards are happening on Monday, March 9 — and in the new year, we’re moving to a new venue, the Ace of Spades! Get your tickets today, and keep an eye on your inbox (and our social media) for honoree announcements and program updates as we get closer!

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

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 18, 2025eqca.org/news
MEDIA CONTACT: 
Jorge Reyes SalinasMOBILE: (213) 355-3057 EMAIL: press@eqca.org
 
Equality California Condemns Proposed Federal Rules Banning Critical Federal Funding for Hospitals and Clinics Providing Transgender HealthcareWASHINGTON — Equality California, the nation’s largest statewide LGBTQ+ civil rights organization — released the following statement from Executive Director Tony Hoang following the release of two long-awaited proposed rules by the federal Department of Health and Human Services’ Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services that would significantly limit access to medical care for transgender youth nationwide: “Donald Trump is continuing his attack on healthcare access, inserting the federal government into deeply personal medical decisions that belong between doctors, parents and their children. Families should determine the appropriate care for their child in consultation with their medical providers. 

One proposed regulation would prohibit federal Medicaid funds from being used to provide care to transgender youth under age 18. The other regulation would prohibit hospitals that receive Medicare and Medicaid funds from providing care to transgender youth under age 18. It is important to remember that these are just proposed regulations — they do not change current California law or prohibit doctors from providing care to their patients.

These proposed rules will hold healthcare institutions hostage and put them in an impossible position: to uphold their ethical obligations and comply with California law by providing medically necessary healthcare, or to lose federal Medicare and Medicaid funds they rely on to serve entire communities. This threatens everyone’s access to affordable care, because the vast majority of hospitals and clinics rely on federal funding to stay open.

In California, transgender healthcare is not only legal — it is recognized as medically necessary and a fundamental right. Every major U.S. medical association affirms that transgender young people should have access to evidence-based, age-appropriate healthcare. We urge hospitals and clinics to remain focused on delivering high-quality care to their patients, and not cave to political intimidation or threats from Donald Trump. 

Even if these rules are implemented, transgender healthcare will remain legal and protected in California. We call upon our state leaders to ensure that California’s healthcare institutions comply with state law, uphold nondiscrimination standards, and take decisive action to protect access to lifesaving care for transgender people.

Together with our state and national partners, we will continue to challenge these discriminatory rules and make sure providers fulfill their oath of ensuring access to care. To transgender kids, their families, and the doctors—you are not alone, and we will never stop fighting for you.” ###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

One of our key legislative wins this session was the signing of SB 59, The Transgender Privacy Act, which makes all court records for name and gender marker changes confidential beginning July 1, 2026. The law also allows people who filed their petitions before July 1, 2026 to request confidentiality through a simple, streamlined process.

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Thank you for your partnership in advancing SB 59 — The Transgender Privacy Act — a new California law that protects the privacy of transgender and nonbinary people who change their name and gender marker through the courts. Beginning July 1, 2026, all newly filed name and gender marker change court records will be confidential. Previously filed records can also be made confidential, but only if the individual submits a request to the court.

We are excited to share the full set of Know Your Rights materials from our recent webinar, co-hosted with TransFamily Support Services, Alliance for Trans Youth Rights, All Family Legal, PC, Secure Justice, and California Rural Legal Assistance, Inc. The resources below provide an overview of the law and how it works, answers to frequently asked questions, and step-by-step instructions for individuals to take advantage of these important new protections.

Important to Know

  • For adults: If your name and/or gender marker change was filed before July 1, 2026, your records will not be made confidential automatically. SB 59 creates a simplified process to request confidentiality.
  • For minors: Petitions filed on or after January 1, 2024 are already confidential. However, any minor petitions filed before January 1, 2024 still require a request to make the records confidential.

We encourage you to share these resources broadly with your communities, clients, and networks. If you or someone you know needs legal support to navigate this process, visit legal.eqca.org to find organizations that can provide free or low-cost legal assistance.
Key Resources
SB 59 Confidentiality Request Toolkit: crla.org/programs/lgbtq-justice

  • Includes fill-in-the-blank sample court forms and FAQs to help individuals request confidentiality of past name and/or gender marker change records.

Webinar Recording:https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/share/WbMh9vfIOaTUc7xDVNUmYBMd_eBeA2Nl35yie3N46EuNe6HKR2gVzVRZZwKvt1Vh.hb0iWQ0H5h75EGIP?startTime=1764727355000 (Passcode: Z7Kz!54!)

  • Includes an overview of the new law and step-by-step instructions on how to request confidentiality for petitions filed before July 1, 2026.
  • The webinar recording is available in English and Spanish.

Materials:

  • SB 59 Webinar PowerPoint Slides (attached)
  • SB 59 FAQ – English (attached)
  • SB 59 FAQ – Spanish (attached)
  • SB 59 FAQ for the Courts (attached)

Thank you for your partnership in helping ensure transgender and nonbinary Californians can access these important new protections.

Craig Pulsipher | Legislative Director
Equality California | Equality California Institute
www.eqca.org | @eqca
:: Pronouns: he/him/his
:: Work Cell: (916) 444-7807
:: Sacramento, CA

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

Week of Dec. 14-Dec. 20, 2025:

  • Trump HHS, CMS Release Proposed Rules to Restrict Healthcare Access for Transgender Youth Under 18:
    Donald Trump’s Secretary of Health and Human Services, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. — joined by senior department officials from the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services and anti-trans activist Chloe Cole — held a press conference on Thursday to announce two new proposed rules to limit access to medically-necessary healthcare for trans youth under 18. One proposed rule would prohibit federal Medicaid funds from being used to pay for such healthcare, while the second would prevent hospitals who receive Medicare or Medicaid funds from providing care. The decision flies in the face of guidance from groups including the American Medical Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics. There will be a mandatory 60-day public comment period — we’ll be in touch soon with more on how to submit comments. Current law in Californiaprotects access to healthcare for transgender youth — and even if the rules become final, this care would remain legal in the state.
  • Two Anti-Trans Bills Pass in the House:
    Two bills — authored by far-right lawmakers Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (GA) and Rep. Dan Crenshaw (TX) — passed House floor votes this week. Greene’s Protect Children’s Innocence Act, which passed 216-211, would criminalize medically necessary healthcare for transgender youth at the federal level, and threaten prosecution of a Class C felony for any provider of such healthcare punishable by up to 10 years in federal prison. Crenshaw’s Do No Harm in Medicaid Act, which passed 215-201, would prevent federal Medicaid dollars from being used to provide healthcare for transgender youth under 18. Both bills are not expected to advance in the Senate, with its 60-vote threshold for passage.
  • Governor Newsom Announces Partnership With Trevor Project:
    California Governor Gavin Newsom announced a new partnership between the state and The Trevor Project to further improve training for California’s 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline counselors to better support LGBTQ+ youth. More than 1,000 crisis counselors will be offered the new training beginning this month and going through March 2026.
  • LGBTQ+, Health, Civil Rights Organizations Urge Governor to Protect Transgender Healthcare:
    25 organizations sent a letter to Governor Newsom this week asking for his support in protecting access to healthcare for transgender Californians. According to the letter, “Transgender youth, their families, and their healthcare providers are experiencing the most severe threats to their safety and wellbeing in decades, and they are looking to California’s elected leaders for assurance that our state’s legal protections will hold even as the federal government works to dismantle them.”
  • Coalition Sends Open Letter Regarding Proposed CMS Rules to CA Hospitals, Clinics:
    Over a dozen leading LGBTQ+, health, and civil rights organizations released an open letter to California hospitals and clinics about the proposed CMS rules. According to the letter, “While these proposed rules are deeply concerning, it is important to be clear: they are not final, they do not have the force of law, and there is no legal basis for any healthcare institution in California to stop providing medically necessary healthcare for transgender patients.”
  • Justice Department’s Civil Rights Homepage Gets Extremist Overhaul:
    The landing page of Donald Trump’s DOJ Civil Rights Division has been updated with a series of questions targeting various communities, including LGBTQ+ people and immigrants. Among the questions posed: “Have you been affected by DEI?” “Do you have evidence of non-citizens voting in elections?” “Have you been sterilized by transgender hormones/surgery?” 

UPCOMING EVENT

  • We’ve set the date for our 2026 LGBTQ+ Advocacy Day in Sacramento: Wednesday, March 25, 2026. Join us at the Capitol for a day of speaking with elected lawmakers about the need to pass pro-equality legislation, and the chance to meet LGBTQ+ advocates and allies from across the state. More details — including logistics, our policy platform, registration and more — will be available in early 2026.

Applications for our 2026 Leadership Academies are now OPEN! Through a combination of in-person training, mentorship, and opportunity identification, the

Trump admin forced to restore $6.2 million to LGBTQ+ and HIV groups

https://www.advocate.com/news/funding-restored-hiv-lgbtq-groups?utm_source=equalpride&utm_campaign=bd696dbc23-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2025_07_17_10_57&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_11dd7c7578-bd696dbc23-387285597&mc_cid=bd696dbc23&mc_eid=54568b9969

Following Trump cut to LGBTQ youth suicide hotline, California steps up to fill the gap
What you need to know: On July 17, the LGBTQ support option on the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline will end thanks to the Trump administration – but California is stepping up and doubling down on life-saving support for young gay people in crisis. 
LOS ANGELES – Just weeks after the Trump administration announced that they would eliminate specialized suicide prevention support for LGBTQ youth callers through the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, California is taking action to improve behavioral health services and provide even more affirming and inclusive care. Through a new partnership with The Trevor Project, Governor Gavin Newsom and the California Health and Human Services Agency (CalHHS) will provide the state’s 988 crisis counselors enhanced competency training from experts, ensuring better attunement to the needs of LGBTQ youth, on top of the specific training they already receive.

This partnership builds on existing collaborations, like those under California’s Master Plan for Kids’ Mental Health, and reflects a shared commitment to evidence-based, LGBTQ+ affirming crisis care. Callers to 988 will continue to be met with the highest level of understanding, respect, and affirmation when they reach out for help.
“While the Trump administration continues its attacks on LGBTQ kids, California has a message to the gay community: we see you and we’re here for you. We’re proud to work with the Trevor Project to ensure that every person in our state can get the support they need to live a happy, healthy life.” Governor Gavin Newsom
“To every young person who identifies as LGBTQ+: You matter. You are not alone. California will continue to show up for you with care, with compassion, and with action,” said Kim Johnson, Secretary of CalHHS. “Through this partnership, California will continue to lead, providing enhanced support for these young people.”

“There could not be a more stark reminder of the moral bankruptcy of this Administration than cutting off suicide prevention resources for LGQBT youth. These are young people reaching out in their time of deepest crisis—andI’m proud of California’s work to partner with the Trevor Project to creatively address this need. No matter what this Administration throws at us, I know this state will always meet cruelty with kindness and stand up for what’s right,” said First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom.
 California’s crisis call centersAcross California, twelve 988 call centers remain staffed around the clock by trained crisis counselors, ready to support anyone in behavioral health crises, including LGBTQ youth.

If you, a friend, or a loved one are in crisis or thinking about suicide, you can call, chat, or text 988 and be immediately connected to skilled counselors at all times. Specialized services for LGBTQ youth are also available via The Trevor Project hotline at 1‑866‑488‑7386, which continues as a state-endorsed access point.
 State supportsCalifornia’s Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative (CYBHI), a key component of Governor’ Newsom’s Master Plan for Kids’ Mental Health, offers behavioral health services and supports for children, youth, and families.  In addition to focused messaging for LGBTQ youth within three ongoing statewide youth mental health campaigns, CYBHI has funded more than a dozen community organizations to provide targeted services for LGBTQ youth by establishing or expanding LGBTQ community spaces, increasing workforce supports, reducing behavioral health stigma, and raising awareness about suicide prevention. 

Additional free continuum-of-care services are available to help address concerns before they become crises, including peer support through CalHOPE and virtual behavioral health services platforms BrightLife Kids and Soluna. These resources are available for all California youth, young adults, and families, regardless of insurance or immigration status.
 Why this mattersLGBTQ youth are four times more likely to attempt suicide than their peers, and without affirming services, their risk increases dramatically. Since its launch in 2022, the 988 LGBTQ+ “Press 3” line connected more than 1.5 million in crisis.
 How to get help Call, text or chat 988 at any time to be connected with trained crisis counselors.

Text PRIDE, or dial 1‑866‑488‑7386, to reach Trevor Project specialists.

Visit CalHOPE for non-crisis peer and family support.

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.

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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

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.docxDownload

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:

  1. 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
  2. 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
  3. 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: 

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.

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