California: Governor Newsom signs legislation protecting the LGBTQ community, pushing back on attacks by the Trump administration
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Sep 26, 2026

Governor Newsom signs legislation protecting the LGBTQ community, pushing back on attacks by the Trump administration

What you need to know:  Governor Newsom announced he signed a six-bill package responding to recent direct attacks on LGBTQ individuals by the federal government. The legislative package includes LGBTQ Caucus-priority bills that strengthen privacy protections and offer critical support and resources to vulnerable individuals, including veterans.

SACRAMENTO – Add press release content here.

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.

Governor Gavin Newsom

The bills signed today are priority bills for the LGBTQ caucus, adding to California's nation-leading protections and resources for the LGBTQ community. They 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 (AG) when they receive a subpoena regarding protected healthcare activity, and authorizing the AG 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. This follows legislation the Governor 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 another state's ban on conversion therapy — a dangerous practice that targets LGBTQ youth and falsely claims to change sexual orientation or gender identity.

✅ 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/AIDS, even as the HIV services are rolled back at the federal level.

"California continues to show what it means to stand with LGBTQ+ people and protect the dignity, safety, and freedom of every Californian," said Assemblymember Chris Ward, Chair of the California Legislative LGBTQ Caucus. "I'm grateful to Governor Newsom for signing this year's LGBTQ Caucus priority legislation and for his partnership in turning our commitment to equality into meaningful action. For the past eight years, Governor Newsom has been a steadfast ally to our community, and as he enters his final year in office, these signatures are another lasting testament to that commitment. I'm proud that this final chapter of his administration's LGBTQ+ record will include legislation that makes a real difference in the lives of LGBTQ+ Californians and their loved ones, and helps carry forward California's legacy of leading with equality, dignity, and compassion."

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"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 Senator Sabrina Cervantes, Chair-Elect of the California Legislative LGBTQ Caucus. "I'm proud of the work our Caucus has done to advance legislation that meets the real needs of our community, and I thank Governor Newsom for signing these important bills. This progress reflects what we can accomplish when we work together to build a California where LGBTQ+ people and their families can live with greater safety, opportunity, and dignity."

The legislation signed today includes:
  • AB 1775 by Assemblymember Christopher Ward (D-San Diego) — Veterans.
  • AB 1930 by Assemblymember Rick Chavez Zbur (D-Hollywood) — Abortion or gender-affirming health care services: subpoenas, discovery requests, or other requests for information.
  • SB 934 by Senator Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) — Sexual orientation or gender identity change efforts.
  • SB 1023 by Senator John Laird (D-Santa Cruz) — Health care coverage: antiretroviral drugs, drug devices, and drug products.
  • SB 1114 by Senator Christopher Cabaldon (D-Yolo) — Data collection: sexual orientation, gender identity, and intersex status: disclosure.
  • SB 1328 by Senator Sabrina Cervantes (D-Riverside) — Public postsecondary education: Equity in Higher Education Act: campus contact.

For the full text of the bills, visit leginfo.legislature.ca.gov.

California stands in support of the LGBTQ community

Across dozens of bills signed since 2019, Governor Newsom and the Legislature have strengthened protections in schools; expanded access to care; improved data collection and accountability; protected data privacy; and invested in safer communities.

The 2026-27 Budget Act appropriated $66 million to the California Department of Health Care Access and Information to support continued access to care for patients who do not have coverage, or who have lost coverage, for abortion or gender-affirming care, including $30 million to the Uncompensated Care Program, $10 million to support access to gender affirming care services for children and youth, and $26 million over three years to help organizations maintain and develop capacity to provide gender affirming care.

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