Gavin Newsom signs several pro-LGBTQ+ laws, vetoes gender-affirming care and HIV coverage

"Newsom signed Assembly Bill 82/Senate Bill 497, which strengthens confidentiality in health care - including for drugs used in gender-affirming care and abortion. The bill, introduced by out gay Democratic state Sen. Scott Wiener, expands the state's shield law by requiring law enforcement obtain warrants to access the California healthcare database and punishing unauthorized access as a misdemeanor."

""The Trump Administration is trying to make transgender people the scapegoats for their fascist takeover, and California must stand up to protect them," Wiener said in a statement. "President Trump has made it clear he is willing to violate laws and norms to target transgender people, and that he will not stop until their existence has been erased from public life. California must do everything in our power to protect the transgender community, and I'm confident that the Governor will continue his longstanding leadership on trans issues.""

"Other bills signed by Newsom include SB 590, which strengthens paid family leave protections to make them more inclusive of LGBTQ+ people; SB 450, which allows out-of-state queer couples to access in-state channels when adopting California-born children; AB 727, which mandates that universities provide all students with LGBTQ-specific suicide hotline information; and AB 1084, which makes it easier to change one's legal name and gender on official documents."

Governor Gavin Newsom signed multiple bills bolstering LGBTQ+ protections and privacy while vetoing two measures that would expand health care coverage. AB 82/SB 497 tightens health care confidentiality, covers drugs used in gender-affirming care and abortion, expands the state's shield law, requires warrants for law enforcement access to the California healthcare database, and makes unauthorized access a misdemeanor. SB 59 seals transgender and nonbinary adults' gender transition court records. Additional signed bills include SB 590 (inclusive paid family leave), SB 450 (adoption access for out-of-state queer couples), AB 727 (university LGBTQ-specific suicide hotline info), and AB 1084 (easier legal name and gender changes).

Read at Advocate.com