California Gov. Jerry Brown has signed a historic law that makes California the first state in the nation to ensure that transgender youth in foster care will be able to access medically necessary care that will assist them in their transition.
The bill, introduced by openly gay Assemblymember Todd Gloria (D-San Diego), requires the state Department of Social Services to ensure transgender youth are aware of their options and can have their transition-related treatments covered by Medi-Cal, California’s Medicaid system. That guidance must be developed by January 1, 2020.
Under the bill, which passed the legislature last month, “gender-affirming health care” is defined as health care that respects a patient’s gender identity, including interventions that allow their physical appearance to match that identity or can alleviate their gender dysphoria, such as hormones and mental health counseling.
LGBTQ advocates say that allowing youth to access this care is potentially life-saving, as untreated gender dysphoria can lead to poor self-esteem, self-harm, and even suicidal ideation.
“This is the beginning of a new and hopeful day for the many foster youth in California,” Gloria said in a statement. “With the signing of this bill, we tell our foster youth that no matter who you are or how you identify, there is a place for you in California.
“We want our future generations to know they have a safe place to grow up and live,” he added. “At its core, that’s what this bill does — we empower transgender and gender non-conforming foster youth to live authentically despite their circumstances. I want to thank Governor Brown for signing this bill into law — an act which I truly believe will save lives.”
The American Academy of Pediatrics recently released a statement recommending, in part, that transgender and gender-diverse youth be allowed to access “comprehensive gender-affirming and developmentally appropriate health care.”
AAP notes that studies have shown that children who are supported in their transition are more likely to experience better physical and mental health outcomes.
In one study, 56% of transgender youth considered committing suicide at some point, with 31% actually attempting it. By comparison, only 20% of cisgender youth have thought of suicide, and 11% have attempted it.
California previously passed legislation acknowledging the importance of recognizing the gender identity of transgender youth when, three years ago, it required child welfare workers and caregivers to consider the gender identity of a transgender youth when determining where such children are placed.
LGBTQ rights group Equality California praised Brown’s signing of the bill.
“Once again, Governor Brown has taken decisive action to protect LGBTQ youth in foster care,” Rick Zbur, the group’s executive director, said in a statement. “No young Californian should be denied gender-affirming health care simply because of who they are.”
A California man has pleaded not guilty to a brutal attack that left a 57-year-old gay man in a coma after objecting to the victim’s Halloween costume.
Sean Wesley Payton Jr., 24, of Sacramento, is accused of assaulting Alvin Prasad around 1:30 a.m. on November 1.
Prasad had been out at Badlands, an LGBTQ nightclub, with his adult daughter, Andrea, on Halloween night. He was dressed in an 18th-century coat and hat, along with knee-high platform boots, a pink wig, and large white wings strapped to his back.
A transgender woman has filed a lawsuit against hotel giant Hilton, alleging that she was assaulted by a security guard at the Hilton Dallas Lincoln Centre while she was a registered guest.
According to the complaint, filed in the 192nd Civil District Court in Dallas County, Kimberly Barnett, an Afro-Latina transgender woman from Nebraska, was staying at the hotel in late June while attending Dallas Pride Weekend and other LGBTQ events.
Barnett returned to the Hilton Dallas Lincoln Centre around 3:45 a.m. on June 24 and attempted to "valet her vehicle," according to the lawsuit.
Adult film star and OnlyFans collaborator Lane V Rogers died in a motorcycle accident in California on Monday, December 15. He was 31.
According to the adult film industry news site Str8UpGayPorn, which interviewed Rogers multiple times over the years, the Lexington, Kentucky, native had been visiting friends in Los Angeles and Ventura counties over the weekend. He had rented the bike for his week-long stay in California and had prior experience riding.
Rogers was riding his motorcycle near the Pacific Coast Highway when he collided with a box truck. He was pronounced dead at the scene 10 minutes later. The investigation into the cause of the accident remains ongoing.
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