Ava Loren 
California has made history by becoming the first U.S. state to formally designate a month for recognizing transgender individuals. The state’s Assembly passed a resolution to establish August as Transgender History Month, as reported by Fox 40.
Assemblyman Matt Haney of San Francisco emphasized the importance of truth-telling, stating, “I believe that as Californians, our strongest defense against the anti-trans agenda is just to tell the truth. Let’s tell the truth about transgender people’s lives and let’s lift up the history of the transgender Californians who left their mark on our great state.”
The move in California coincides with ongoing discussions about gender policies in the state’s schools. State Attorney General Rob Bonta recently took legal action against the Chino Valley Unified School District’s Board of Education, urging them to halt the enforcement of their gender identity disclosure policy. A California judge temporarily halted the district from implementing the mandatory gender identity policy.
Transgender History Month, officially recognized starting next year, aims to highlight the contributions and history of the transgender community, according to the Fox 40 report.
San Francisco Democratic Party Chair Honey Mahogany emphasized the need for awareness and education, saying, “Many Californians remain unaware of the real lives and experiences of transgender people, even here in California. We can change that through awareness, education, and outreach, and I believe that establishing a Transgender History Month in California is one way we can do just that.”
A newly established activist group called Protect Kids California has launched a petition for three 2024 ballot initiatives, as reported, focusing on transgender children in California. These measures propose preventing minors from undergoing gender-affirming procedures, requiring schools to inform parents about their child’s gender identity selection, and prohibiting males from participating in girls’ sports.
Erin Friday, a member of Protect Kids California, highlighted the bipartisan nature of the issue, saying, “This issue is affecting Democratic families and Republican families. Parents are losing their rights regardless of what party they’re from.”
California has been a pioneer in advancing LGBTQ+ policies. In the previous year, the California Assembly passed a bill designating the state as a safe haven for transgender children and their families. Democratic State Sen. Scott Weiner emphasized the importance of standing with LGBTQ+ kids and their families, especially when they face challenges across the country.
