Openly gay and lesbian state lawmakers are spearheading efforts in multiple states to pass laws protecting transgender people.

In California, Assemblyman Tom Ammiano (pictured) is fighting to protect California’s transgender students from discrimination in schools. Last week, he introduced legislation that would grant students the right to use public school bathrooms and participate on sports teams that match their expressed genders, according to  the Associated Press.

Discrimination based on gender identity or sexual orientation is already illegal in California, but Ammiano’s bill would be the first in the country to specifically address transgender students’ right to use the restroom and join the sports team that corresponds with their gender identity.

Just next door, Nevada law does not currently protect people from discrimination based on gender identity. Pat Spearman, an openly lesbian state Senator, introduced a bill Monday that would make Nevada the next state to include gender identity in its hate crimes statute.

Sen. Spearman, who said she was the victim of an attack when she was 21, emphasized the importance of adding gender identity to existing hate crimes laws. “Whenever crimes are committed by perpetrators and they are clearly committed only on the basis of a particular aspect of that person’s characteristics, then I think justice requires us to act,” she told a hearing of the Senate Judiciary Committee.  The Las Vegas Sun reported that supporters from the community filled the room, overflowing into the hall. No one present opposed the bill.

In Maryland, openly gay state Sen. Rich Madaleno and ally state Sen. Jamie Raskin have proposed the Fairness for All Marylanders Act of 2013, which would add gender identity to the list of protected identities under the state’s hate crimes statute. The measure died in committee in 2012, but supporters are confident that the important bill will pass this year.

“Many of the most vulnerable people in the LGBT community are left with no legal protections in our state laws,” Sen. Madaleno said. “I come before you today as the sponsor of Senate Bill 449 with my good friend from Montgomery County and ask you to fix this omission and ensure that all Marylanders, including my transgender sisters and brothers, are afforded protection under our anti-discrimination laws.”

Governor O’Malley told the Washington Blade last week that he is “absolutely” reaching out to lawmakers to urge them to pass the bill.

Photo: Sacramento Bee

An openly gay California state senator has proposed a bill that would strip tax exempt status for youth organizations that openly discriminate.

State Sen. Ricardo Lara introduced the “Youth Equality Act” Tuesday in the midst of the nationwide debate over the Boy Scouts of America’s controversial anti-gay policy. If it passes, the legislation would revoke the tax exempt status of youth organizations (including student groups organized through private and public schools) who discriminate based on sexual orientation or gender identity.

“Our state values the important role that youth groups play in the empowerment of our next generation; this is demonstrated by rewarding organizations with tax exemptions supported financially by all Californians,” said Lara. “SB 323 seeks to end the unfortunate discriminatory and outdated practices by certain youth groups by revoking their tax exemption privilege should they not comply with our non-discrimination laws.”

Supporters of the bill say they recognize it directly targets the Boy Scouts’ discriminatory policy, particularly as the organization’s national leadership debates the rule throughout the coming months. The Board of the Boy Scouts is expected to reconsider its anti-gay policy in May.

“I thought it was necessary for California to make sure we don’t condone the discriminating practices of youth groups like the Boy Scouts of America,” Lara said. “We’ve given the Boy Scouts ample time, and they’ve chosen not to address this issue.”

The bill would require a two-thirds vote in the state legislature to pass.

San Francisco International Airport could soon become Harvey Milk San Francisco International Airport, making it the first airport in the world to be named after a LGBT person.

David Campos, an openly gay member of San Francisco’s Board of Supervisors, is sponsoring a charter amendment that would prompt the name change. The Associated Press reports that five of Campos’ colleagues must agree to add the proposed name change to the November ballot for voters to approve.

Campos believes the name change would provide an important learning opportunity for the millions of travelers who pass through the airport each year. “The idea that millions of people can learn about Harvey Milk and what he represented is very moving,” he told the AP.

According to the AP, 68 countries with flights in and out of SFO still punish homosexuality by law. Stuart Milk, Harvey’s nephew, emphasized the impact of the name change for many international LGBT travelers: “For young gay people in an illegal place looking up at a monitor and being able to point to this international airport named after an LGBT advocate, it gives them the green light to authenticity. It’s a major representation that (they) are being celebrated somewhere in the world in a high-level way.”

The San Francisco Board of Supervisors will vote on the amendment in the coming weeks.

David Campos has served as a member of the city’s Board of Supervisors since his election in 2008.

Photo: Rex Features

Equality California released a new ad, entitled “Hope”, as the California Supreme Court considers a challenge to Proposition 8. In addition to working towards repealing Proposition 8, the group was an organizational plaintiff in the original California Supreme Court case that initially gave gay and lesbian couples the right to marry.

The following statement was posted on Equality California’s website introducing the ad:

Murdered and persecuted by governments. Arrested and beaten for being who we are. Our rights put up for popular vote, time and time again.

Our new ad makes the connection between past persecution and current discrimination, like the passage of Prop 8.

Take action to ensure that everyone learns our history, connects it to our present struggle and joins the fight.

On ABC’s This Week, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger told George Stephanopoulos that he believes the California Supreme Court will overturn Proposition 8.

Read part of the transcript and view the clip below.

STEPHANOPOULOS: So you think the courts should overturn Proposition 8?

SCHWARZENEGGER: The court has overturned it. And now they went back. And the people have voted for it again, against the gay marriage. So the Supreme Court, you know, I think ought to go and look at that again. And we’ll go back to the same decision, basically.

STEPHANOPOULOS: And you believe they will.

SCHWARZENEGGER: I think that they will. And I think that the important thing now is to resolve this issue in that way.

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