Blog

Trump Administration Move to Roll Back LGBTQ+ Health Protections: Here’s what Californians Need to Know

June 12, 2020

Today, the Trump Administration released its final rule making changes to Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act and rolling back the Obama-era guidance explicitly prohibiting discrimination based on gender identity. While courts have consistently affirmed that federal rules banning sex discrimination also ban discrimination against transgender, nonbinary, and gender nonconforming people, this rule is…

Black Lives Matter

June 1, 2020

Black Lives Matter. The California LGBTQ Health and Human Services Network expresses its outrage and grief at the loss of Black Lives. We join movement leaders across the country in demanding justice and accountability for the murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, Tony McDade, Stephon Clark, and too many others over the past…

Our Blackness Shines, Even in The Dark: How Black Trans Women Gave You Wellness and Life Even When We Were in Pain

February 3, 2020

In the initial days of what we call the LGBTQI community today, Black trans women gave you the medicine you needed to thrive in a world where you were rejected.

Cooperative Care: Queering Self-Care

December 4, 2019

Self-care is vital to our mental health and wellness. However, many of us in the queer community have limited resources as a result of discrimination, family rejection, and health disparities.

Bias Free Child Custody: Changing the Family Code to Improve Lives

October 17, 2019

Section 3040 of the California Family Code is now amended to include “(c) The court shall not consider the sex, gender identity, gender expression, or sexual orientation of a parent, legal guardian, or relative in determining the best interest of the child…”.

What does coming out mean to you?

October 11, 2019

Today marks the 31st anniversary of National Coming Out Day. This is an opportunity to celebrate the bravery of all those who have come out as LGBTQ+ and a reminder to keep up the fight for future generations.

Apply Today! Help Ensure that LGBTQ Communities are Counted in the 2020 Census

September 6, 2019

Have you been hearing about the 2020 Census? Maybe you’ve seen local job postings, or heard that this is the first year the Census will be conducted online. Maybe you were following the Trump Administration’s decisions around including questions about sexual orientation, gender identity, or citizenship. Or maybe you haven’t heard anything at all (although…

Creating Safer Schools for LGBTQ Youth

August 28, 2019

Gender and Sexuality Alliance / Gay-Straight Alliance Clubs By Isaias Guzman   In high school, my stomach would turn every time I heard anti-LGBTQ slurs and bullying. Words like, “fag,” and “that’s so gay,” would dig into me each time they were casually thrown out by students. Stories of my friends being bullied would break…

Section 1557: Protecting our health care laws

August 14, 2019

Since May, we have been sharing information with you about the Trump Administration’s proposed changes to Section 1557. For those of you following along at home, Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act explicitly prohibits discrimination on gender identity and sex stereotypes. The rule was implemented after years of public input, and lined up with California’s state-based protections, which also prohibit health care discrimination on the basis of gender identity and sexual orientation.

If we are not counted, we do not count.

March 28, 2019

By Rory O’Brien & Poshi Walker   Photo Credit: Gender Spectrum Collection.   Picture this. A trans man is sitting in the waiting room at the doctor’s office and the receptionist calls for him – not by his name – but by saying “the gynecologist is ready for you.” Imagine a provider giving their lesbian…