The Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits discrimination in public spaces and services, as well as federally funded programs, on the basis of sex. In California, Assembly Bill 783 requires cities and counties to notify all applicants for a new or renewed business license that single-user bathrooms must be identified as bathrooms for all genders. Working closely with members of the California LGBTQ Legislative Caucus and other pro-equality legislators, Equality California sponsors and supports state legislation for equality in Sacramento. The Women's Health Protection Act (WHPA) includes the right to abortion in federal legislation and provides clear guidance to states and courts on the right of medical providers to provide abortion services without burdensome and medically unnecessary restrictions.
While there are examples of California case law to the effect that “sexual preference should not affect child custody determinations,” this language is outdated, unclear and has not been codified in the California Family Code. The Equality Act would modify the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and other existing federal civil rights laws to explicitly prohibit discrimination in public spaces and services, as well as federally funded programs, on the basis of sex, including sexual orientation and gender identity. In other words, individuals have the right to control to what extent and to whom they disclose highly personal information about their sexual orientation or gender identity. LGBTQ youth who find themselves homeless often travel to major California cities, such as San Francisco and Los Angeles, in search of acceptance.
Equality California co-sponsors Senate Bill 159 with the San Francisco AIDS Foundation, the Los Angeles LGBT Center, the California Pharmacists Association and the California Health Systems Pharmacists Society. This bill seeks to close a gap in current legislation to ensure that all transgender people who have attended California educational institutions have the same rights and protections. The resolution based on five pillars is a model for public education based on evidence-based practices that support teaching, learning and family participation, and affirms that all students must be able to learn in environments where they can be themselves and be free from all forms of discrimination. The Equality Act would modify existing federal civil rights laws, including the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Fair Housing Act, the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, and the Jury Selection and Services Act to explicitly prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity.
Senate Bill 357 repeals section 653.22 of the California Penal Code, which criminalizes loitering with the intention of engaging in sex work. The Department of Justice has refused to defend the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) in court and has filed briefs in support of a federal judge's ruling that the entire law is unconstitutional. The Equality Act would facilitate the collection of voluntary, self-revealed demographic data on sexual orientation, gender, and variations in sexual characteristics (intersex traits) in all federal surveys. In Los Angeles County, California there are several laws that protect LGBTQ individuals from discrimination in public spaces and services as well as federally funded programs.
These laws ensure that individuals have control over how much personal information they disclose about their sexual orientation or gender identity. Furthermore, these laws provide protection for LGBTQ youth who are homeless or attending educational institutions within Los Angeles County. Finally, these laws provide protection against discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity as well as criminalization of loitering with intent to engage in sex work. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 is an important piece of legislation that prohibits discrimination against LGBTQ individuals in public spaces and services as well as federally funded programs.
Assembly Bill 783 requires cities and counties to notify all applicants for a new or renewed business license that single-user bathrooms must be identified as bathrooms for all genders. The Women's Health Protection Act (WHPA) includes the right to abortion in federal legislation while providing clear guidance to states and courts on medical providers' right to provide abortion services without burdensome restrictions. The Equality Act would modify existing federal civil rights laws to explicitly prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. Senate Bill 357 repeals section 653.22 of the California Penal Code which criminalizes loitering with intent to engage in sex work.
These laws ensure that individuals have control over how much personal information they disclose about their sexual orientation or gender identity while providing protection for LGBTQ youth who are homeless or attending educational institutions within Los Angeles County. It is important for LGBTQ individuals living in Los Angeles County to understand their rights under these laws so they can feel safe when accessing public spaces or services or participating in federally funded programs without fear of discrimination or criminalization due to their sexual orientation or gender identity.
