California Governor Newsom has vetoed Assembly Bill 2442 that would have required the expedited processing of licensure applications for medical & mental health providers offering gender-affirming care within their licensed scope of practice. A signature on AB 2442 would have built on California’s long-standing nationwide leadership on LGBTQ rights by significantly improving access to care for transgender individuals in California & across the country which is critical to their safety, health & well-being. Tony Hoang Equality California Executive Director stated, “We are deeply disappointed in Governor Newsom’s decision to veto AB 2442, which would have helped to ensure that the Golden State remains a safe haven for transgender people and their families across the country. As more states enact draconian healthcare bans, California has seen an influx in transgender youth & their families traveling to our state seeking such care & resources. Understandably, this has strained an already overburdened provider network in California. AB 2442 provided a common-sense solution — expediting licensure for those providers with a demonstrated commitment to offering gender-affirming care — to strengthen California’s existing provider network & protect access to care for out-of-state patients. We are grateful to Assemblymember Zbur for championing this important measure. We remain committed to ensuring that transgender people in California & across the country can access the essential health care they need.” As of August 2024 nearly 40% of transgender youth in the U.S. are living in 26 states that have passed bans on gender-affirming care. Some states such as Oklahoma, Texas & South Carolina have even considered banning care for transgender adults.
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