LGBTQ+ Leaders Urge Yes on Proposition 35 to Expand Lifesaving Health Care for all Californians
For Immediate Release
September 18, 2024
CONTACT: Press@VoteYes35.com
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Amid a growing statewide health care crisis, leading LGBTQ+ organizations — including Equality California, Los Angeles LGBT Center, Los Angeles LGBTQ Chamber of Commerce, Alice B. Toklas LGBTQ Democratic Club, and Harvey Milk LGBTQ Democratic Club — are urging Californians to support Proposition 35.
LGBTQ+ adults face unique barriers to accessing care. Proposition 35 will secure dedicated and ongoing funding to protect and expand access to primary and specialty physicians, community health clinics, hospitals, emergency rooms, family planning, and mental health providers without raising taxes on individuals.
“Proposition 35 is essential to providing timely health care to LGBTQ+ individuals,” said Tony Hoang, Executive Director, Equality California. “By expanding funding for community health clinics and mental health providers, we can increase access to culturally competent care, including HIV prevention and treatment, gender-affirming care, and mental health services. This measure is a major step towards health equity for our community.”
Transgender adults are more likely to rely on Medi-Cal than cisgender adults, which provides essential medical and dental care for some of California’s most vulnerable populations, including low-income families, people with disabilities, and half of the state’s children.
“Proposition 35 is a smart investment in California’s health and economic future,” said Patrick Kirkwood, Executive Director of the Los Angeles LGBTQ Chamber of Commerce. “Our health care system has suffered chronic underfunding and the diversion of funds to the tune of $30 billion over the last 15 years. I’m also voting yes because the measure mandates that 99 percent of revenues must go to patient care and requires annual independent performance audits to ensure funds are spent effectively.”
The Bay Area Reporter, America’s longest continuously-published and highest circulation LGBTQ newspaper, said that “Reliable revenue for Medi-Cal is important for the health care of many people. Vote YES on Prop 35.”
Proposition 35 is supported by a large, bi-partisan coalition that includes nurses, health care workers, first responders, physicians, dentists, hospitals, Planned Parenthood, community health centers, social justice organizations and both the CA Democratic and Republican Parties because it will improve access to health care for ALL California patients.
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The Yes on Prop 35 Coalition is a group of physicians, hospitals, health care workers, community health centers, Planned Parenthood, dentists, and emergency responders dedicated to increasing access to health care.
With over 900,000 members, Equality California is the nation’s largest statewide LGBTQ+ civil rights organization. They bring the voices of LGBTQ+ people and allies to institutions of power in California and across the United States, striving to create a healthy, just, and equal world for all LGBTQ+ people.
The Los Angeles LGBT Center provides services for more queer and trans people than any other organization in the world—offering programs, services, and global advocacy that span four broad categories: Health, Social Services and Housing, Culture and Education, and Leadership and Advocacy.
The Los Angeles LGBTQ Chamber of Commerce promotes business networking among members and their community. This network fosters sharing information, ideas, contacts, products, and services, strengthening and expanding LGBT businesses, careers, and communities.
The Alice B. Toklas LGBTQ Democratic Club is the oldest queer Democratic club in the country. Founded in 1971, two years after the Stonewall riots, Alice has fought for a truly fair society for over 50 years. The club is open to people of all genders and sexualities who want to help us transform local, state, and national politics.
The Harvey Milk LGBTQ Democratic Club, one of San Francisco’s largest Democratic clubs, is respected for its progressive history and political actions. It empowers activists and members of marginalized backgrounds and bolsters the resistance to status quo politics, changing rather than obeying power dynamics that leave members of our community out in the cold.