Tragically LGBT youth are taunted, harassed, bullied and even worse. One in four becomes homeless after coming out to their parents. Many try to commit suicide.
Benji was one such youth. Growing up in a small town in California, his life was a living nightmare. He was mercilessly teased and bullied. He faced rejection by his family. He tried to kill himself many times.
Benji desperately needed professional help. But California law prevents mental health professionals from treating youth who cannot obtain their parents' permission.
Equality California has been working with Senator Mark Leno and key coalition partners to change the law and eliminate this restriction to ensure that other young people don’t suffer like Benji did. Yesterday the Assembly and Senate passed the Mental Health Services for At-Risk Youth bill which, if signed into law by the governor, will allow youth to obtain the mental health services they need and will help save countless lives.
This is just one of the seven Equality California-sponsored bills that has passed the legislature and is awaiting action by the Governor. These bills will help some of the most vulnerable members of the LGBT community and will advance equality.
We need your help to ensure these bills are signed into law. Write Governor Schwarzenegger and urge him to protect LGBT Californians by signing these seven EQCA-sponsored bills into law.:
- The Mental Health Services for At-Risk Youth bill (Leno) will increase LGBT youths’ access to counseling.
- The Repeal of Discriminatory Code bill (Lowenthal) will end California’s search for a “gay cure.”
- The Civil Marriage Religious Freedom Act (Leno) will codify freedom of religion in relation to civil marriage.
- The LGBT Prisoner Safety Act (Ammiano) will reduce violence against LGBT people in the state prison system.
- The Separation Equity Act (Ma) will allow same-sex couples to dissolve their domestic partnerships and civil marriages at the same time.
- The Hate Crimes Protection Act (Saldaña) will prohibit contracts from requiring a person to waive their right to sue if they are the victim of a hate crime.
- The Unemployment Benefits Equality bill (De La Torre) will give individuals entering domestic partnerships the same rights as those getting married to obtain unemployment benefits.
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Fortunately, Benji was able to find support from a caring teacher and is now headed to college. He was strong and he was lucky, but many aren't as fortunate.
We will achieve full equality when LGBT people are equal in the eyes of the law and are fully accepted in society. Until then, Equality California will continue to champion legislation to protect every LGBT Californian.
Join us to achieve full equality.
With hope,
Geoff Kors
Executive Director
Equality California
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