On September 23, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed nine bills that will strengthen protection for LGBTQ+ individuals in the Golden State. These bills establish several new laws that address all-gender and one-user restrooms, name and gender change procedures for official documents, and LGBTQ+ support in foster families and schools, to name a few.
These bills include AB 5, The Safe and Supportive Schools Act, which requires the state’s Department of Education to develop an online LGBTQ+ cultural competency training platform. Starting in 2025, teachers and other staff at educational institutions serving grades 7-12 will complete at least an hour of training annually using the new platform.
Newsom also signed SB 857, which requires the establishment of an advisory task force dedicated to assessing the needs and implementing supportive initiatives for LGBTQ+ pupils statewide. One of the bills addressing name and gender change on official documents, AB 223, requires any petition for a change of gender and sex identifier made by a minor to be filed under seal, or kept confidential, by the court.
This slew of signings came after the governor’s contested decision to veto AB 957 on September 22. The bill would have required the parent’s affirmation of a child’s gender identity or gender expression to be considered part of the health, safety, and welfare of the child.
“I urge caution when the Executive and Legislative branches of state government attempt to dictate – in perspective terms that single out one characteristic – legal standards for the Judicial branch to apply,” Newsom says in a veto statement. “Other-minded elected officials, in California and other states, could very well use this strategy to diminish the civil rights of vulnerable communities.”
He also stated that there are already laws in place that require courts to consider the health, safety, and welfare of a child in custody cases, and include the parent’s affirmation of a child’s gender identity.
“California is proud to have some of the most robust laws in the nation when it comes to protecting and supporting our LGBTQ+ community, and we’re committed to the ongoing work to create safer, more inclusive spaces for all Californians,” Newsom says regarding the bills he signed on Saturday. “These measures will help protect vulnerable youth, promote acceptance, and create more supportive environments in our schools and communities.”
