March 19, 2024 The Newspaper Serving LGBT Los Angeles

California Transphobic ballot initiative again fails to qualify

BY MATTHEW BAJKO  |   For the second year in a row an effort to place a transphobic ballot measure before California voters has failed.

Late Monday afternoon the group that had been circulating a proposed initiative that would require people to use facilities in government buildings and public schools based on the gender they were assigned at birth announced it had failed to gather the signatures needed in order to place it on the November 2016 ballot.

Calling itself Privacy For All, the group had until December 21 to submit 365,880 valid signatures to qualify its Personal Privacy Protection Act for next year’s general election. But in a message posted on Facebook at approximately 4:30 p.m. Monday, the group announced it had fallen short.

“While we are extremely disappointed, we know that we gave this effort our best and ‘left it all on the field,’” stated the message.

There had been growing concern that anti-gay groups would transport the successful messaging they used last month in Houston to repeal that city’s equal rights ordinance to California. That campaign played off fears that the local law would allow male sexual predators into women’s restrooms.

LGBT advocates therefore were elated to see the transphobic bathroom measure fail in the Golden State.

“It is a good day and we are just ecstatic at the fact we have more time to make the advances we need to for the transgender community,” Equality California Executive Director Rick Zbur told the Bay Area Reporter in a brief phone interview late Monday.

Last year a similar coalition of anti-gay groups failed to gather enough signatures to repeal Assembly Bill 1266, a groundbreaking law that grants transgender students access to school activities like sports teams and the use of school facilities like bathrooms based on their gender identity.

The back-to-back defeats make it increasingly unlikely going forward that anti-gay groups will be able to utilize California’s initiative process to strip away LGBT rights.

Nonetheless, EQCA plans to move forward with a public education campaign it is developing to bring greater awareness to the issues transgender people confront. It should debut sometime in February.

“In any case as long as the public doesn’t know and appreciate the gifts and talents transgender people contribute to our community that community is at risk of being used as a wedge issue by right-wing extremists,” said Zbur

in NEWS
Related Posts

Woman Sentenced for $3.9 Million Fraud and Body Disposal Scheme with Elderly Victim

March 18, 2024

March 18, 2024

Gruesome Attempt to Dispose of Victim’s Body in West Los Angeles Apartment A San Fernando Valley woman has been sentenced...

West Hollywood Hosts Documentary Screening on Ukraine’s Fight for Freedom Tuesday

March 18, 2024

March 18, 2024

City’s Human Rights Speakers Series to Feature Award-Winning Film, Discussion The City of West Hollywood’s Human Rights Speakers Series is...

Roadway Construction Alert at LAX: Plan Your Travel Accordingly

March 18, 2024

March 18, 2024

Lane Restrictions Scheduled Nightly from March 17 to March 23 After this weekend’s closures of Century Boulevard, which frustrated travelers...

Nex Benedict’s Family Releases Statement on Medical Examiner’s Cause of Death

March 17, 2024

March 17, 2024

Family Shares Details from Autopsy Report to Prevent Misinformation Nex Benedict’s family has released a statement through their attorney regarding...

GLAAD Announces Recipients for 35th Annual Media Awards at Gala Ceremony in Beverly Hills

March 17, 2024

March 17, 2024

Oprah Winfrey, Niecy Nash-Betts Among Honorees; Ceremony to Stream on Hulu GLAAD, the world’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and...

Los Angeles Marathon 2024 Concludes: Annual Race Draws International Talent and Record Numbers

March 17, 2024

March 17, 2024

Top finishers from Kenya and Ethiopia lead the race, with U.S. representation among the leaders The 39th Annual Los Angeles...

FBI Seeks Victims of Alleged Online Exploitation Scheme Allegedly Run by Resident of Santa Monica

March 17, 2024

March 17, 2024

Individuals Urged to Come Forward in Investigation of John Douglas Burch The FBI’s Philadelphia Field Office is urging individuals to...

Venice Family Clinic Announces Inaugural HEART Gala to Celebrate Health and Art

March 15, 2024

March 15, 2024

Event Honors Creative Community and Supporters of Vital Health Care Services Venice Family Clinic, a non-profit community health center dedicated...

(Video) Sarah Kate Ellis, President and CEO of GLAAD Responds to News of Nex Benedict’s Cause of Death

March 15, 2024

March 15, 2024

Sarah Kate Ellis, President and CEO of GLAAD, responds to the release of the Oklahoma Medical Examiner’s Ruling on Nex...

“Love Lies Bleeding” is Ripped: Actress Katy O’Brian Talks Love, Sex, and Vulnerability

March 15, 2024

March 15, 2024

Katy O’Brian is a Breakout Star Who Shines in Loving and Hilariously Violent Crime Film English film director Rose Glass’...

OUTLOUD Music Festival Returns for WeHo Pride, Releases Stunning Weekend Lineup

March 14, 2024

March 14, 2024

West Hollywood’s Celebration to Feature Headliners Kylie Minogue and Janelle Monáe The OUTLOUD Music Festival is set to make its...

Oklahoma Medical Examiner’s Office Releases Cause of Nex Benedict’s Death

March 14, 2024

March 14, 2024

The Full Autopsy Report Will Be Released in Ten Days, Questions Remain The Oklahoma State Medical Examiner’s Office has released...

IRS Launches Direct File Pilot of Free Filing Tool for Taxpayers in California, 11 Other States

March 14, 2024

March 14, 2024

Free, Convenient Online Tax Filing Option Now Available for Eligible Individuals The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced the official launch...

Chef Roy Choi Brings Tacos Por Vida to LA With Soft Opening in Palms

March 13, 2024

March 13, 2024

The Lines Are Already Growing at This Newest Roy Choi Taco Stand Celebrated chef Roy Choi is celebrating the debut...

Countdown to the 2024 Los Angeles Marathon: Road Closures Ahead

March 12, 2024

March 12, 2024

Annual Marathon Comes with Saint Patrick’s Day Twist in 2024 Just three days from now, the 2024 Los Angeles Marathon...