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California, like much of the country, is facing a catastrophic fentanyl crisis. The drug — which can be up to 50 times more potent than heroin and 100 times more potent than morphine — has become the fastest-growing cause of death for young people in our state.

Because of its extreme potency, fentanyl is frequently added to other drugs to make them cheaper and more powerful. Most victims consume it accidentally because the drug is odorless, tasteless, and colorless, making it incredibly difficult to detect and all the more dangerous to our young people.

Another six bills related to LGBTQ issues or health concerns are moving on this legislative session in the California Legislature. Lawmakers in the bills' houses of origin adopted them by their June 3 deadline to do so this year.

All 20 pieces of legislation the Bay Area Reporter is tracking this year are moving forward. Many build on LGBTQ laws previously enacted by state lawmakers that focused on issues impacting public schools and foster youth, with several others related to ending the HIV pandemic.

Sacramento — More than two dozen state lawmakers are calling on the Assembly and Senate budget committees to include a permanent funding stream of $3 billion annually in the state budget to help cities tackle two of the state’s top priorities, increasing the supply of affordable housing and reducing and preventing homelessness.

The bipartisan group of Assembly Members and Senators signed on to a letter authored by Assembly Member Sharon Quirk-Silva, who is championing the League of California Cities' budget ask for ongoing funding.

Assemblymember Rick Chavez Zbur, D-West Hollywood, has unveiled a series of bills aimed at addressing California’s homeless crisis.

With over 170,000 homeless people, California has a disproportionate 30 percent of the nation’s homeless population. At least 10,000 people newly experienced homelessness between 2020 and 2022, and 64 percent of low-income households are rent-burdened and at serious risk of losing their homes.

Last week, California State Assemblymember Rick Chavez Zbur visited Park La Brea for an informal chat with residents and members of the Park La Brea Residents Association.

Zbur, the freshman representative from the 51st Assembly District (a long, narrow strip stretching from Santa Monica northeast to Griffith Park, including the western 2/3 or so of our general Greater Wilshire area), was just elected to the office in November, so last week’s talk gave him and his field representative Sherwin Shamoeil a first chance to check in with a few local constituents after just a few months on the job.

In the wake of the Los Angeles Dodgers rescinding their invitation to The Sisters Of Perpetual Indulgence (TSPI) yesterday, the team received sharp condemnation from the Los Angeles and greater California community. This decision occurred only two days after Florida Senator Marco Rubio sent a letter to Major League Baseball complaining about the group’s inclusion in the ceremony where they would have received an award for their service to the community and then tweeted about it. His accusation, leveled from 2,577 miles away was joined the next day by a similar accusation from a group called The Catholic League which has headquarters in New York City and a group called CatholicVote.

Wednesday was the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia. It was also the day that the LA Dodgers decided to disinvite a storied group of drag nuns from a planned Pride event in June.

“We are now aware that our inclusion of one group in particular — the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence — in this year’s Pride Night has been the source of some controversy,” the baseball team said in a statement on Twitter.

WASHINGTON – Florida Republican U.S. Senator Marco Rubio issued a statement Monday that condemned the Los Angeles Dodgers Major League Baseball franchise for a scheduled “Community Hero Award”  to be given to the LA Chapter of The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence drag group during Pride month in June.

The Florida Republican alleges that honoring the group “mock(s) the faith with the motto with “Go forth and sin some more!” Rubio sent a letter to Major League Baseball (MLB) Commissioner Rob Manfred stating that he is questioning whether the League is “inclusive and welcoming” to Christians.

Two gay California lawmakers have told the Bay Area Reporter they plan to introduce legislation to address the issues impeding efforts to collect LGBTQ health data as detailed in a damning report by the state's auditor. Meanwhile, the state's health department is also working on a roadmap to address the findings of the audit.

Freshman gay Assemblymember Rick Chavez Zbur (D-West Hollywood) plans to work collaboratively with gay state Senator Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) on a comprehensive bill aimed at fixing the myriad problems hampering the collection of sexual orientation and gender identity, or SOGI, data by the California Department of Public Health.

Hollywood Area Assemblymember Rick Chavez Zbur has endorsed Assemblymember Chris Holden for Los Angeles County Supervisor.

Holden is running against incumbent Kathryn Barger.

"I am proud to endorse Assemblymember Chris Holden for Los Angeles County Supervisor. He has been a strong advocate for LGBTQ+ inclusion and advancing equality in our state. I am excited to work with him to advance policies that create a healthier and safer Los Angeles County for all," stated Assemblyman Chavez Zbur.