Los Angeles – Equality California and the Transgender Law Center released a joint statement today in response to the City of Los Angeles’ formation of a Transgender Advisory Council as part of an effort to give the transgender community a voice in local governance.
Transgender Law Center Executive Director Kris Hayashi issued the following statement:
“The creation of the Transgender Advisory Committee signals Mayor Eric Garcetti’s commitment to investing in the expertise and leadership of transgender residents in Los Angeles. The City of West Hollywood was the first city in California to establish such an advisory board and now Los Angeles is the largest city – paving the way for other municipalities to follow. We’re at a unique time in the transgender movement where the community is receiving greater visibility and growing acceptance, yet more must be done to ensure compassion, respect and recognition of all transgender Californians in cities across the state.”
EQCA Executive Director Rick Zbur issued the following statement:
“Mayor Eric Garcetti and the Los Angeles City Council displayed the type of proactive and thoughtful leadership that we need to build more supportive and accepting communities. Cities like Los Angeles and West Hollywood embody what it means to compassionately lead – giving transgender Californians a seat at the table and the respect they deserve in the local government process. Although a growing number of transgender Californians are coming out, it has been a long road to get to this point and we cannot stop until all barriers are removed and every city has established their own transgender advisory council.”
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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
Transgender Law Center changes law, policy, and attitudes so that all people can live safely, authentically, and free from discrimination regardless of their gender identity or expression.
