California’s LGBTQ community still worries about transgender youth

California is suing a San Diego hospital after it said it would limit gender-affirming care to young patients. But some parents of transgender children and LGBTQ advocates say the state still doesn’t do enough to protect the transgender community amid a federal administration that continues to target them.

As CalMatters’ Kristen Huang explains, Rady Children’s Health in San Diego — the state’s largest provider of children’s health services — plans to close its Gender Confirmation Care Center on Friday. The move comes as President Donald Trump insists on limiting federal funding to hospitals that provide transgender health care to minors. In a statement, the hospital confirmed it was the subject of a federal investigation and said “the environment around gender-affirming care has changed dramatically.”

In response, California Attorney General Rob Bonta sued last week to stop the shutdown. While many in the LGBTQ community applauded the action, some were confused that the state was suing the hospital under a provision governing business transactions, not for civil rights violations.

• Canaan Durhamexecutive director of Pride at the Pier, an LGBTQ advocacy group in Orange County: “We have anti-discrimination laws on the books. We have legal protections for gender-affirming care on the books. But if Rob Bonta doesn’t feel confident in his ability to win a case based on those laws, do we really have those laws?”

Meanwhile, parents of transgender children and supporters are publicly showing their disapproval: more than 600 people protested outside Rady last month, and another 100 protested at the hospital affiliated with the Orange County system.

• Danny Ceseniadirector of the California LGBTQ Health and Human Services Network: “We need to stop the letters. We need to stop the messages. We need to see action. Our kids are suffering.”

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In response to Trump’s environmental and immigration policies, Gov. Gavin Newsom recently laid out his plans to increase sales of electric vehicles in California and weighed in on the security of the state’s southern border:

• EV Discount Plan: After the Trump administration last year rescinded tax credits that would have boosted electric car sales, Newsom unveiled plans to overhaul the state’s own EV incentive programs in his budget proposal in January. The $200 million venture will lead to a rebate program that will be offered at the point of sale, not as a rebate, and automakers will have to match the funds. Eligibility will be based on the price of the car, not the buyer’s income. Read more by Alejandro Lazo of CalMatters.

• Border security: The governor held a news conference in San Diego on Monday touting California’s public safety efforts near the border. Since 2021, National Guard troops have seized more than half a billion dollars worth of fentanyl at the state’s ports of entry, Newsom said, adding that “this is what the National Guard should be doing.” Read more by Deborah Brennan of CalMatters.

Transparency advocates and Republican lawmakers oppose a bill that would allow the California High-Speed ​​Rail Authority’s auditor to keep certain records away from the public eyewrites Yue Stella Yu of CalMatters.

The bill from the deputy Laurie WilsonSuisun City Democrat and chairman of the Assembly Transportation Committee, would allow the High-Speed ​​Rail Authority’s inspector general to withhold records they believe could be damaging to the state. The measure would also preserve the confidentiality of internal communications if the people involved file a request.

Wilson said the High-Speed ​​Rail Authority often does not turn over sensitive records to the inspector general for fear the oversight agency would have to release the records. The proposal, Wilson argued, would protect the inspector general so they could “do a full dive unhindered.”

But with rising prices and missed deadlines on the massive transit project, critics say more transparency is needed.

• MP Alexandra MacedoVisalia Republican: “Every ounce of this bill must be available for public use and must be presented factually and fully to the entire Legislature.”

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In the second half of 2025, Republican gubernatorial candidate Steve Hilton raised more than $4 million in campaign donations, a fundraising run that surpassed several Democratic candidates, including Bay Area U.S. Rep. Eric Swawell and former Rep. Katie Porter. But Hilton still came in second for campaign cash, with another candidate putting more of his own money into the race. Find out who by Jeanne Kuang of CalMatters.