New Laws for Californians

The New York Times - January 4th, 2021

"Transgender protections

The Transgender Respect, Agency and Dignity Act allows incarcerated transgender, gender-nonconforming and intersex individuals to be housed and searched according to their gender identity. Individuals will be housed where they feel they will be the safest. State corrections officers will be required to record self-reported gender identity, gender pronouns and honorifics during intake and throughout incarceration. The law also prohibits prison workers from failing to use a person’s specified gender pronouns and honorifics.

Senator Scott Wiener, who wrote the bill, called it “lifesaving legislation that will protect trans people in prison, particularly trans women who are subject to high levels of assault and harassment in men’s facilities.”