Senator Cervantes Advocates for the LGBTQ Community with SB 1328, Equity in Higher Education Act at Satellite Campuses

(SACRAMENTO) – Today, the Senate Education Committee approved Senate Bill 1328 by Senator Sabrina Cervantes (D-Riverside). This bill would expand on the state's policy to afford all people, regardless of specified characteristics, including gender, gender identity, gender expression, and sexual orientation, equal rights and opportunities in the state's postsecondary educational institutions; it would require that the California State University (CSU) and community college systems designate a confidential LGBTQ+ liaison at satellite campuses in addition to main campuses.

“We must continue to stand up for equality, safety, and opportunity for our LGBTQ+ community,” said Senator Cervantes, who is also Vice Chair of the California Legislative LGBTQ Caucus. “Currently, California requires our public colleges and universities to designate confidential LGBTQ+ liaisons on campus – but that protection stops at the main campus. Every college student deserves access to support, no matter where they take classes.”

The act requires the Trustees of the CSU and the governing board of a community colleges district, and requests the Regents of the University of California, to designate an employee at each of their respective campuses as a point of contact for the needs of lesbian, gay, bisexual, asexual, pansexual, transgender, gender-nonconforming, intersex, and two-spirit faculty, staff, and students. The bill would define “branch campus,” “satellite location,” and “main campus” for this purpose. 

The bill is sponsored by the California Legislative LGBTQ Caucus and Equality California.

Read more about the bill here. SB 1328 will be next heard by the Senate Appropriations Committee. 

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