President’s executive orders endanger LGBTQ people

Advocates sound alarm as Trump targets transgender community
by Natalie Hanson | Posted February 10, 2025

photo by Leslie Layton
A Stonewall Alliance Chico flier circulates during this Black History Month seeking support for queer and trans people of color.

LGBTQ advocates from Chico and beyond say that the Trump Administration’s jump to “criminalize and erase” transgender people will worsen an ongoing rise of hate and violence toward a marginalized community.

Stonewall Alliance Chico, a nonprofit that has served LGBTQ people for decades, told ChicoSol in a statement that Trump’s anti-trans campaign — recognizing only “biological men and women” — is the latest in an “ongoing wave” of policies attempting to erase the transgender and gender non-conforming community.

Stonewall Alliance Chico Executive Director Justina Sotelo said: “Trans people have always existed and cannot be legislated out of existence. Executive orders do not override federal or state laws, and in California, strong protections remain in place to defend trans and LGBTQ+ rights, ensuring access to healthcare, education, and legal affirmation.” read more

State agencies, psychologists support Chico Unified

Anti-discrimination policy needed to protect LGBTQ student privacy, they say
by Natalie Hanson | Posted January 24, 2024

photo by Karen Laslo
CUSD offices

Educators and experts have joined California’s leaders in urging an appeals court to uphold a ruling that supports Chico Unified School District’s (CUSD’s) anti-discrimination policy.

California’s Attorney General Rob Bonta filed Jan. 9 in support of the district, along with representatives of 15 other states, arguing that the policy is designed to be flexible on a case-by-case basis to support transgender and gender-nonconforming students, and to withhold parental notice when a student does not consent. The only exception for parental notification, against a student’s wishes, is if the student’s well-being is at risk. read more