Equality California and Transgender Law Center Commend California Democratic Party for Supporting Transgender Californians

San Jose - February 29, 2016 - Equality California (EQCA) and the Transgender Law Center (TLC) applaud the California Democratic Party for its vote to incorporate a plank in the party platform affirming the rights and dignity of transgender people.

The addition to the party's platform, which was officially adopted at this weekend's California Democratic Party Convention, is designed to "Protect the right of all people to use facilities and participate in all aspects of society consistent with their true gender identity".

"As transgender people across the nation face violence and attacks on our fundamental rights, the California Democratic Party's actions this weekend are a welcome step forward,” said Kris Hayashi, executive director of the Transgender Law Center. “We applaud this progress as we continue working to ensure all transgender people can live our lives safely, authentically, and free from discrimination in California and across the country.”

 “We are pleased to see the party affirm what we have long known: that transgender people are our family members, friends and neighbors, and a part of every community in California,” said Rick Zbur, executive director of Equality California. “Of course, transgender people deserve the same freedom to safely go about their lives as anyone in our state or in our country. EQCA thanks the LGBT Caucus for its leadership on this issue and commends all those who supported it.”

Equality California is the nation’s largest statewide lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender civil rights organization dedicated to creating a fair and just society. Our mission is to achieve and maintain full and lasting equality, acceptance, and social justice for all people in our diverse LGBT communities, inside and outside of California. Our mission includes advancing the health and well-being of LGBT Californians through direct healthcare service advocacy and education. Through electoral, advocacy, education and mobilization programs, we strive to create a broad and diverse alliance of LGBT people, educators, government officials, communities of color and faith, labor, business, and social justice communities to achieve our goals. www.eqca.org