Press Release

Governor Newsom Signs Senator Wiener’s Bill To Tackle LGBTQ Health Disparities

SACRAMENTO – Governor Newsom signed Senator Scott Wiener’s (D-San Francisco) Senate Bill 957. SB 957 requires state health agencies to collect sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI) data alongside other demographic information in order to identify and combat health disparities. By measuring the unique health needs of the LGBTQ community, SB 957 helps public health officials reduce health disparities facing the LGBTQ community.

“We can’t fix a problem we can’t measure, and with SB 957 we can take a critical step to delivering true health equity,” said Senator Wiener. “With the full range of data, California can identify the unique health challenges faced by LGBTQ people and ultimately overcome them. I thank the Governor for consistently championing the needs of the LGBTQ community”

SB 957 enacts the full recommendations of last year’s state audit, which found that the California Department of Public Health’s (CDPH) failure to collect SOGI data impacted its ability to protect LGBTQ health. It builds on SB 932 (Wiener, Chapter 183, Statutes of 2020) and AB 959 (Chiu, Chapter 565, Statutes of 2015), which enacted the first requirements for the collection of SOGI data from state health agencies. Last year’s audit found that the state health department is sidestepping these requirements, and SB 957 closes the loopholes that allows evasion of the intent of laws that have been on the books for nearly a decade.

To ensure that CDPH collects complete SOGI data to effectively implement and deliver critical services for LGBTQ+ people, SB 957 will Implement the recommendations from the audit report by amending existing law to require CPDH to: 

  • Collect SOGI data from third-party entities, including local health jurisdictions, on any forms or electronic data systems unless prohibited by federal or state law;
  • Provide an annual report to the public and to the Legislature on its efforts to collect, analyze, and report SOGI data;
  • Improve services or program outcomes for underserved LGBTQ+ communities; 
  • Allow voluntarily provided SOGI data to be included with the immunization data

“SB 957 is a crucial step in making sure no one in the LGBTQ+ community is overlooked when it comes to public health,” said Equality California Executive Director Tony Hoang. “SB 957 will close loopholes in existing law and ensure that the California Department of Public Health is fulfilling its obligation to collect complete and accurate data on the health needs of LGBTQ+ Californians. Without accurate data, the unique health needs of LGBTQ+ people remain invisible, making it harder to ensure everyone gets the care they deserve. We deeply appreciate Senator Wiener’s long-standing commitment to this issue and Governor Newsom’s support in prioritizing the health and wellbeing of LGBTQ+ Californians.”

“SB 957 is not just necessary—it’s imperative for the health and wellbeing of LGBTQ+ Californians. By ensuring the collection of SOGI data, this bill will give us the tools to address inequities head-on and create a more just healthcare system,” said Dannie Ceseña, Director at the California LGBTQ Health and Human Services Network. “Governor Newsom has the opportunity to stand with LGBTQ+ Californians by signing SB 957 into law, demonstrating his commitment to protecting our health and lives.”

“We extend our thanks to Governor Newsom for signing SB 957 into law. This important piece of legislation will help improve data collection of sexual orientation and gender identity information–ultimately ensuring that service providers have up-to-date and relevant information about the LGBTQ+ communities we serve, and enabling us to facilitate better and more tailored services and care” says Tyler TerMeer, PhD, CEO of San Francisco AIDS Foundation. 

SB 957 is sponsored by Equality California, the California LGBTQ Health & Human Services Network, the San Francisco AIDS Foundation, and the California Legislative LGBTQ Caucus as a co-sponsor.

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