In Honor of Pride Month, Attorney General Bonta Releases Annual State of Pride Report, Reaffirms Commitment to Empowering LGBTQ+ Communities

OAKLAND - California Attorney General Bonta today, in celebration of Pride Month, published the California Department of Justice (DOJ)'s fourth annual "State of Pride Report. " The report highlights DOJ's recent work to protect and empower the rights of the LGBTQ+ community, in California and nationwide. Pride Month is an opportunity to honor the history, achievements, and strength of the LGBTQ+ community, as well as reaffirm DOJ's commitment to supporting and advancing LGBTQ+ individuals' rights. While immense progress has been made, LGBTQ+ Americans continue to face threats to their well-being from individual actors as well as from the federal government and some state governments. DOJ will continue to fight alongside LGBTQ+ communities to secure safe, welcoming environments where all individuals can prosper and be treated fairly, regardless of how they identify.

"This Pride Month and every month, I remain committed to serving as a staunch ally and advocate for the LGBTQ+ community," said Attorney General Rob Bonta. "While Pride Month is a time to celebrate the history of the LGBTQ+ rights movement and the progress we have made, hateful attacks against LGBTQ+ individuals continue to occur nationwide - even here in California. The California Department of Justice will not stand idly by in the face of attacks on LGBTQ+ Americans' freedoms to express themselves, receive crucial health care, and be included in their communities without facing unfair roadblocks. As California Attorney General, I will use all the tools at my disposal to push back against hate and discrimination. In solidarity with our LGBTQ+ community, I will continue to fight for justice, to promote equality, and build communities where all Americans can safely live and prosper as their authentic selves."

The State of Pride Report describes the ways in which California law protects LGBTQ+ individuals from discrimination and protects access to and provision of gender-affirming care. The report details how DOJ has worked to combat threats against LGBTQ+ communities and protect LGBTQ+ individuals' rights. In the past year, DOJ has:

• Defended access to gender-affirming care, including by opposing the Trump Administration's unjustified attempts to subpoena medical providers' health records related to the provision of gender-affirming care; as well as by challenging and securing a final court ruling blocking a declaration by U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. that claimed gender-affirming care does not meet professionally recognized standards of care, and that HHS could therefore disqualify providers of gender-affirming care from federal healthcare programs like Medicare and Medicaid.
• Fought to secure for safe, inclusive environments for LGBTQ+ youth, such as by supporting state laws allowing transgender students to participate on sports teams matching their gender identity; opposing state laws that ban transgender students from doing so; and supporting policies ensuring students' identities are respected at school.
• Challenged attempts to exclude and discriminate against LGBTQ+ Americans, including by filing lawsuits against the Trump Administration's attempts to require federal grants recipients to comply with executive orders targeting LGBTQ+ individuals, opposing President Trump's attempt to ban transgender individuals from military service, and fighting federal policy changes that would damage California's ability to enforce employment and housing anti-discrimination laws.