Senator Wiener’s Statement on Senate Committee Rejection of Intersex Bodily Autonomy Bill

SACRAMENTO - Senator Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco), SB 201’s author, released the following statement today, after the Senate Business, Professions and Economic Development Committee voted down the bill.

“I’m very disappointed that the Committee voted down this civil rights bill. Intersex people deserve legal protection, and we are committed to ensuring that protection under California law. Today’s vote was a setback, but this is only the beginning. We aren’t giving up on protecting intersex people from non-consensual, invasive, dangerous surgery. As with many civil rights struggles, it sometimes takes multiple tries to prevail. We will be back.

“I am grateful to the sponsors of the bill: the ACLU of Northern California, Equality California, and interACT: Advocates for Intersex Youth. I am also grateful for the support of the co-authors of the bill: Senator Jim Beall, Senator Cathleen Galgiani, Assemblymember Wendy Carrillo, Assemblymember David Chiu, Assemblymember Todd Gloria, Assemblymember Kevin McCarty, Assemblymember Bill Quirk, and Assemblymember Phil Ting.

“I intend to keep fighting alongside intersex advocates on this important civil rights issue, and am hopeful that in the future we will be able to pass similar legislation.” 

Contact: Catie Stewart,  catie.stewart@sen.ca.gov, 610.675.6342