The first LGBTQ rights legislation to be passed by the state Legislature this year now awaits signage by California Governor Gavin Newsom. He has until early July to sign it into law or veto the bill.
Assembly Bill 439, authored by Assemblywoman Rebecca Bauer-Kahan (D-Orinda), would allow for the option of nonbinary as the gender identity on death certificates. It is similar to the 2017 legislation Senate Bill 179, authored by lesbian Senate President pro Tempore Toni Atkins (D-San Diego), which authorized people to use nonbinary on their birth certificates, court documents, and driver s licenses.
The first bill focused on LGBTQ rights to pass out of its house of origin this legislative session, when the Assembly voted for it 62-2 on April 19 with 12 members not voting, the Senate approved the bill June 21 on a 32-6 vote with two abstentions. The Assembly voted a second time on the amended bill June 24, passing it with 63 votes and 16 abstentions.