CA Gov Brown to sign bill ensuring trans students have full access to athletic facilities and programs

Sacramento, CA, July 3, 2013 the California State Senate passed the School Success and Opportunity Act (Assembly Bill 1266), sending the bill that ensures transgender students have the opportunity to succeed in school to Governor Jerry Brown for signature. Authored by Assemblymember Tom Ammiano, the bill passed the Senate with a 21-9 (unofficial). The bill passed the California State Assembly last month with 46-25 vote.

Bill Text Source: leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/

"This bill would require that a pupil be permitted to participate in sex-segregated school programs, and activities, and facilities, including athletic teams and competitions, and use facilities consistent with his or her gender identity, irrespective of the gender listed on the pupil’s records."

"(f) A pupil shall be permitted to participate in sex-segregated school programs, and activities,  and facilities, including athletic teams and competitions, and use facilities consistent with his or her gender identity, irrespective of the gender listed on the pupil’s records."

AB 1266 will ensure that California public schools understand their responsibility for the success and well-being of all students, including transgender students, and will allow transgender students to fully participate in all school activities, sports teams, programs, and facilities in accordance with their gender identity.

A huge shout out to all of those who fought so hard to make this a reality including:

Erik Olvera, National Center for Lesbian Rights, 415.365.1324, EOlvera@NCLRights.org
Jesse Melgar, EQCA, 323.848.9801, Jesse@EQCA.org
Rebecca Farmer, ACLU of California, 415.621.2493, x374, RFarmer@ACLUNC.org
Jill Marcellus, GSA Network, 516.313.9659, Jill@GSANetwork.org
Mark Snyder, Transgender Law Center, 415.865.0176, x310, Mark@TransgenderLawCenter.org

PRESS RELEASE: CA Senate Passes Bill Supporting Transgender Student Success

ENDA To Be Voted On In Senate Committee July 10th

The Senate Health Labor Education and Pensions Committee is scheduled to vote on S.815, Employment Non-Discrimination Act of 2013 (ENDA) July 10th.

The Senate currently has 52 Democrats, 46 Republicans and 2 independent congress members. It appears by all accounts on the ground there's a good possibility ENDA will receive an up vote in Committee and move to the Senate floor were it needs 51 votes to pass.

But its prognosis is not so bright according to a new statistical formula provided by Gov. Track which says ENDA has a 5% chance of getting past committee and only 1% chance of being enacted.

In any case it's doubtful Enda would pass the House of Representatives since it would need 218 votes to pass and there are only 201 Democrats and 234 Republicans.

If somehow ENDA is passed S.815, Employment Non-Discrimination Act of 2013 will make it ...unlawful employment practice for an employer--

(1) to fail or refuse to hire or to discharge any individual, or otherwise discriminate against any individual with respect to the compensation, terms, conditions, or privileges of employment of the individual, because of such individual’s actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity; or

(2) to limit, segregate, or classify the employees or applicants for employment of the employer in any way that would deprive or tend to deprive any individual of employment or otherwise adversely affect the status of the individual as an employee, because of such individual’s actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity.

Read more about Enda at the Washington Blade and the Metro Weekly.