December 2017 – Lauded by some as groundbreaking anti-discriminatory legislation, California SB 219 was signed into law by Governor Jerry Brown in early October. Also known as the LGBT Seniors’ Bill of Rights, this new law institutes a myriad of restrictions for caregivers of LGBT individuals living in long-term care facilities. Under the guidelines of SB 219, care workers and facilities could face fines up to $150,000, loss of license, and/or jail time if they do not address LGBT patients by their desired gender pronouns or names, and clothe them accordingly.
