Senator Wiener presents SB 59 to enhance privacy protections for transgender individuals in California

The Assembly Judiciary Committee convened on June 17, 2025, to discuss two significant bills aimed at enhancing protections for transgender individuals in California. Senator Scott Wiener presented both SB 59 and SB 497, starting with SB 59, which focuses on safeguarding the privacy of transgender and non-binary individuals.

Senator Wiener emphasized the urgent need for this legislation, citing a troubling rise in harassment and intimidation against transgender people, particularly in light of recent federal actions perceived as hostile to the community. SB 59 seeks to ensure that any legal petitions for changes in gender identifiers and names are kept confidential by the courts, thereby expanding protections previously established for minors under a 2023 law authored by Assemblymember Chris Ward. This bill also aims to retroactively apply these protections to adults who have undergone similar changes.

Canaan Durham, a transgender man and founder of Pride at the Pier, shared a personal testimony highlighting the dangers of doxing and the trauma associated with having his legal name exposed online. He urged the committee to pass SB 59 to help protect others from similar experiences. Jonathan Clay, representing the Alliance for Trans Youth Rights, further elaborated on the bill's importance, noting that it would provide necessary protections for individuals who underwent name and gender changes before the enactment of the previous law.

The committee heard strong support for SB 59 from various organizations, including the California Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and the ACLU. However, concerns were raised by Romy Mancini, a former attorney for the ACLU, who argued that the bill's provisions for automatic sealing of name changes could impose excessive penalties on individuals who disclose this information without demonstrating actual harm.

The committee's discussions underscored the critical need for legislative measures to protect the rights and safety of transgender individuals in California, reflecting a broader commitment to uphold dignity and privacy in the face of increasing societal challenges. The meeting concluded with a motion to advance SB 59, signaling a step forward in the ongoing efforts to support the transgender community.