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In September, Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom officially repealed California’s 2016 ban on state-funded travel to states with laws targeting LGBTQ+ people.

The idea behind the ban — which applied to bureaucrats, lawmakers, academics and even college athletes — was to use California's economic heft to dissuade other states from enacting such laws. By that metric, it was an abysmal failure; in the past seven years, the number of states with objectionable laws increased from four to 26.

SACRAMENTO COUNTY, Calif. — Governor Gavin Newsom signed nine bills Saturday to enhance California's protections for people in LGBTQ+ communities. They specifically include measures to better support the youth.

THE BUZZ — California legislators are confronting LGBTQ rights in a way that might have seemed unimaginable just a handful of years ago. A nationwide wave of anti-transgender bills and rhetoric has come to the state, and Democrats and the governor are deciding how to respond.

That tension is expected to play out this week with back-to-back rallies by groups on opposite sides of the debate over trans-inclusive policies in schools.

Welcome Tim Jemal, NAIOP SoCal CEO, as he sits down with a diverse network of industry leaders, rising young professionals, and elected officials and to discuss what drives these individuals to succeed and contribute the communities in which we live. Stay up-to-date with industry trends and learn from the personal and professional journeys of those who have influenced our industry.

Last Wednesday, the Santa Monica Democratic Club invited Third District County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath and 51st Assembly District Representative Rick Chavez Zbur to address the club. Each elected leader received almost an hour for opening remarks and then take questions from Club leadership.

California Assemblyman Rick Chavez Zbur (D-West Hollywood) addressed members of the West Hollywood community on July 18 during a gathering in the West Hollywood City Council Chambers.

Lesbian state Senate President pro Tempore Toni Atkins (D-San Diego) has once again made political history in California. This time, by using her pen as the Golden State's acting governor to sign into law a trio of bills.

With both of her Democratic colleagues out of state July 6 — Governor Gavin Newsom was on vacation and Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis was visiting relatives in Greece — it fell to Atkins to oversee leadership of the state's government last Thursday.

Jewish Family Service LA (JFSLA) was honored as a 2023 California Nonprofit of the Year by Assemblymember Rick Chavez Zbur, on June 7th, at the State Capitol. Assemblymember Zbur represents the area of West Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Hollywood, Santa Monica, and other regions in LA.

WEST HOLLYWOOD – Recently published State Budget Bill SB 102/AB 102: Budget Act of 2023 (2023-24 "Budget Bill Jr.") shows $1.15 Million will be allocated to restore the West Hollywood Log Cabin once the bill is adopted by the State.

California State Assembly Member Rick Zbur and Senator Ben Allen put the allocation for the Log Cabin in their State Budget (Zbur for $650K and Allen for $500K). If passed the dedicated funds will help with badly needed renovations for the Log Cabin.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — For the first time, the state's task force on inclusive education met in the Capitol. The topic of the meeting was how to diversify textbooks in California.

Thurmond called on publishing firms to pledge to diversify their textbooks and resources and to work with the task force. Thurmond said representatives from Benchmark Education, CPM Educational Programs, The College Board, and Studies Weekly provided examples of what their companies are doing to provide broader narratives and depictions that are inclusive of stories and histories of often-underrepresented groups.