This blog originally appeared at NBC News.
The governor of California has approved legislation aimed at strengthening the state’s safeguards for LGBTQ individuals.
California Governor Gavin Newsom signed a series of bills on Saturday, with the intention of enhancing the state’s protections for LGBTQ individuals. This action followed a contentious veto issued by the governor the previous day, which drew criticism from advocates.
The recently enacted laws encompass measures aimed at supporting LGBTQ youth. Among these, one law establishes timelines for mandatory cultural competency training for public school teachers and staff. Another law establishes an advisory task force dedicated to identifying the needs of LGBTQ students and promoting supportive initiatives. Additionally, a third law mandates that families demonstrate the ability and willingness to address the needs of a child in foster care, irrespective of their sexual orientation or gender identity.
In a statement, Governor Newsom emphasized California’s commitment to maintaining comprehensive laws for the protection and support of the LGBTQ+ community. He expressed that the newly enacted measures aim to safeguard vulnerable youth, foster acceptance, and cultivate more supportive environments within schools and communities.
Governor Newsom also approved a bill mandating that schools catering to students in the first through twelfth grades must provide at least one gender-neutral bathroom by the year 2026.
The legislation was prompted by a Southern California school district that implemented a policy mandating schools to inform parents when their children alter their pronouns or use a restroom associated with a gender different from the one documented in official records. The policy was temporarily halted by a judge following a lawsuit by California Attorney General Rob Bonta against the Chino Valley Unified School District, with the legal proceedings still underway.
The governor vetoed a bill on Friday that proposed judges should take into account a parent’s affirmation of their child’s gender identity when determining custody and visitation arrangements.
Assembly member Lori Wilson, a Democrat who authored the bill and has an adult son who came out as transgender during adolescence, was among the LGBTQ advocates expressing criticism for the governor’s decision.
“I’ve been disheartened over the last few years as I watched the rising hate and heard the vitriol toward the trans community. My intent with this bill was to give them a voice, particularly in the family court system where a non-affirming parent could have a detrimental impact on the mental health and well-being of a child,” Wilson said in a statement.
Newsom said existing laws already require courts to consider health, safety, and welfare when determining the best interests of a child in custody cases, including the parent’s affirmation of the child’s gender identity.
The veto comes amid intense political battles across the country over transgender rights, including efforts to impose bans on gender-affirming care, bar trans athletes from girls and women’s sports, and require schools to notify parents if their children ask to use different pronouns or change their gender identity.
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