California is seen as one of the most liberal states in the U.S. in regard to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (lgbtq+) rights, which have received nationwide recognition since the 1970s. Same-sex sexual activity has been legal in the state since 1976. Discrimination protections regarding sexual orientation and gender identity or expression were adopted statewide in 2003. Transgender people are also permitted to change their legal gender on official documents without any medical interventions, and mental health providers are prohibited from engaging in conversion therapy on minors.

Californië werd de eerste staat in de VS die in 1999 binnenlandse partnerschappen tussen koppels van hetzelfde geslacht legaliseerde. Het homohuwelijk werd in 2008 voor vijf maanden gelegaliseerd totdat de kiezers in november van hetzelfde jaar een verbod goedkeurden. Nadat het Amerikaanse Hooggerechtshof op 26 juni 2013 weigerde de juridische status van tegenstanders van het homohuwelijk te erkennen, was het verbod niet langer afdwingbaar, waardoor het homohuwelijk vanaf 28 juni kon worden hervat. over de gehele staat sinds 2003, waardoor adoptie van stiefkinderen en gezamenlijke adoptie tussen paren van hetzelfde geslacht mogelijk is.

In 2014, California became the first state in the U.S. to officially ban the use of gay panic and transgender panic defenses in murder trials. Public schools are also required to teach about the history of the lgbtq+ community and transgender students are allowed to choose the appropriate restroom or sports team that match their gender identity. Most support for lgbtq+ rights can be seen in the largest cities, such as Los Angeles, San Diego, and San Francisco, as well as many cities on the Pacific coast. A 2017 survey from the Public Religion Research Institute showed that 66% of Californians supported same-sex marriage.

 

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