News Item

FOSTER CARE BILL ON CALIF. GOVERNOR'S DESK, AWAITING SIGNATURE

The California State Legislature approved a landmark bill to protect lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) youth in foster care, and to help promote placement of such youth in the system to LGBT parents. Lambda Letters Project and the California Alliance for Pride and Equality (CAPE), who sponsored the bill, made the announcements in
August 19 press releases after the historic vote.

The Senate voted 23-12 in favor of the bill on August 14, 2002. After considering the Senate amendments to the original bill, the Assembly approved the bill five days later by a vote of 44-31. The bill is now on the Governor's desk, awaiting signature.

California Assembly Bill (AB) 2651, by Assembly Member Judy Chu (D-Monterey Park), prohibits discrimination and harassment based on sexual orientation and gender identity in the state's foster care system.

In a statement after the CAPE's interim Executive Director, Geoffrey Kors, praised the Senate's strong support of the bill. "The problems faced by LGBT youth in the foster care system have been ignored for far too long.. This bill will make a real difference in the lives of foster youth, foster parents, and foster system staff," Kors concluded.

Upon returning to the Assembly floor for its final approval after the Senate amendments, reaction from opposition began anew. "All this does is tell the kids that it's okay to be gay," fumed Assembly Member Dennis Mountjoy (R - Monrovia), a conservative known for opposing LGBT-supportive legislation. "Well, it's not okay to be gay!"

Mountjoy, a member of the Assembly's Human Services Committee, was later taken to task by Assembly Member Dion Aroner (D - Berkeley), who was "offended" by his comments. Other Assembly Republicans then chided
Aroner, Chair of the Human Services Committee that originally presented the bill, for her 'intolerance' of Mountjoy's comments.

As written, AB 2651 would prohibit discrimination and harassment against foster youth, foster parents and other foster household members based on a number of factors including sexual orientation, gender identity and HIV/AIDS status. It also encourages the Dept. of Social Services to specifically seek out LGBT parents for placement of LGBT foster children.

The bill also provides for foster family education on sexually or physically abused youth, as well as sensitivity training on teenage sexual health and STD prevention specifically geared towards the challenges faced by LGBT youth.

NTAC - the National Transgender Advocacy Coalition - strongly supports the passage of the Foster Care Bill, AB-2651, and urges all supportive citizens of California to contact the governor's office and encourage him to sign the pending legislation. NTAC supports equal consideration for all parents and children, regardless of gender identity or sexual orientation.