California Gov. Gavin Newsom Signs Bills Protecting LGBTQ+ People From Trump Administration
Newsom, a likely 2028 Democratic presidential hopeful and LGBTQ+ ally, has frequently criticized Trump and his administration.
Democratic California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed several bills into law last week that his office says are in response to direct attacks on LGBTQ+ people under the federal government of President Donald Trump.
The package of bills signed on Saturday includes bills that strengthen privacy protections and offer support and resources to vulnerable individuals, including veterans, according to a press release.
“The Trump administration has launched an all-out assault on the LGBTQ community, using medical records to target U.S. servicemembers and civilians alike, hurting countless people and betraying hard-won trust. California will not stand for it,” Newsom said in a statement.
Newsom, a likely 2028 Democratic presidential hopeful, has frequently criticized Trump and his administration. While Newsom has long been an LGBTQ+ ally, he’s been criticized for some of his positions on trans girl athletes.
The bills in the newly signed package include:
- Stronger privacy protections, by both limiting the sharing of sexual orientation, gender identity, and intersex data, and requiring healthcare providers and institutions to notify the California attorney general when they receive a subpoena regarding protected healthcare activity, and authorizing the attorney general to respond and intervene.
- Support for LGBTQ+ servicemembers by providing critical housing, employment, and transition-to-civilian-life support to servicemembers discharged as a result of President Trump’s ban on trans servicemembers from the military. Newsom’s office notes that this follows legislation Newsom signed in 2022 to help LGBTQ+ veterans discharged under “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” update their records and access education, health, burial, and other benefits available to honorably discharged service members.
- Updates to California’s longstanding ban on conversion therapy to protect vulnerable LGBTQ+ youth following the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling striking down Colorado’s ban on the discredited practice of so-called conversion therapy.
- Provisions to create safe, supportive environments for LGBTQ youth to succeed by ensuring resources at public higher education institutions are available to students at satellite campuses.
- Strengthening California’s HIV prevention strategy by enhancing access to vital HIV prevention medications such as PrEP and PEP so Californians can continue to obtain medication critical in the fight against HIV and AIDS, even as the HIV services are rolled back at the federal level by the Trump administration.
“Every LGBTQ+ Californian deserves to feel valued in all aspects of their life — from the classroom and the workplace to their home and community,” said state Sen. Sabrina Cervantes, Chair-Elect of the California Legislative LGBTQ Caucus.
Assemblymember Chris Ward, Chair of the California Legislative LGBTQ Caucus said, “California continues to show what it means to stand with LGBTQ+ people and protect the dignity, safety, and freedom of every Californian.”
