Governor Gavin Newsom’s score on the 2024 Equality California Legislative Scorecard was the fourth lowest given to a Golden State gubernatorial leader since the statewide LGBTQ civil rights group began grading lawmakers in Sacramento over two decades ago. Newsom’s 76.9% score was the lowest earned by a Democratic governor.
And it marked the lowest score Newsom has received from EQCA since taking office as governor in 2019. On the 2023 scorecard, he earned 78%, which was a 10-point drop from his 88% score in 2021. His scores in 2022, 2020, and 2019 were all 100%.
Holding the top three lowest scores from EQCA is Republican former governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. In 2010, he earned a dismal 57%. In 2005, 2008 and 2009 the GOP politico had notched scores of 60%, while in 2006 he had a score of 71%. He did receive a 100% in 2004, the first legislative session that EQCA graded lawmakers on their votes of its high-priority LGBTQ bills and if the governor signed them into law.
During his two terms as governor between 2011 and 2018, Democrat Jerry Brown’s lowest score was 80% in 2013. He received an 83% in 2011, 85% in 2018, and 100% during the five other years over that time span.
Despite signing 10 bills into law last year among the 13 that EQCA scored lawmakers on – up from the seven he had signed in 2023 among the 10 that the LGBTQ rights group had scored him on – Newsom still received the equivalent of a nearly C+ grade from EQCA in its latest scorecard, officially released March 26. It was hardly a surprise since he had vetoed three bills that the organization had co-sponsored during last year’s legislative session.
One was Assembly Bill 3031 that had called for the formation of a statewide commission tasked with addressing the needs of LGBTQ Californians. In rejecting it, Newsom had raised concerns about the cost of such an advisory panel, as the Bay Area Reporter had reported.
Assemblymember Alex Lee (D-San Jose), who is bisexual, had co-authored it with then-Assemblymember Evan Low (D-Cupertino), who is gay. Low left the Legislature last December after losing a U.S. House race and is now the CEO and president of the LGBTQ Victory Fund.
Another bill backed by EQCA that Newsom vetoed was AB 2442 authored by gay Assemblymember Rick Chavez Zbur (D-Hollywood), who formerly led the advocacy group. The legislation would have required various medical boards in California to expedite the medical licensure of out-of-state doctors who provide gender-affirming care, with Newsom again raising cost concerns in his veto message, as the B.A.R. had reported.
The third bill Newsom vetoed that lost him points from EQCA was Senate Bill 1022 by then-state senator Nancy Skinner (D-Berkeley). In his veto message Newsom explained he opposed the lengthy limitations period it would have allowed for investigations of certain civil rights violations under the state’s Fair Employment and Housing Act and encouraged a revised bill be brought forward this year.
“I thank the author for introducing this measure, which intends to limit litigation and help resolve civil rights disputes quickly and more efficiently. However, I am concerned with specific provisions in this bill that provide the Civil Rights Department (CRD) with a seven-year period to file a group or class complaint under FEHA,” wrote Newsom. “This limitations period is significantly longer than the limitations period for similar civil matters, including class action litigation on behalf of employees.”
Newsom tacks right
His earning the lowest score from EQCA of his gubernatorial tenure to date comes as Newsom has tacked to the right on various matters, from environmental regulations to what sports teams transgender athletes can play on, ahead of an expected 2028 presidential bid. It has earned him rebukes from environmental and LGBTQ advocates.
It is also raising questions on if Newsom will again use his veto pen to strike legislation this year prioritized by EQCA and the Legislative LGBTQ Caucus. After the fallout from Newsom’s supportive comments of restricting trans girls from women’s sports teams on the debut March 5 episode of his podcast “This is Gavin Newsom,” Politico, citing unnamed sources, reported that two of Newsom’s top aides in January had asked members of the affinity group for out lawmakers not to file trans-rights bills this year.
To date, Newsom has vetoed seven bills that EQCA has scored him on and signed 48 into law. Brown signed 59 of the bills used by EQCA to score him during his third and fourth terms as governor (having served two terms prior in the late 1970s through the early 1980s) and vetoed five. Schwarzenegger signed 37 and vetoed 17.
At a press conference in the Central Valley April 2, Newsom again defended his comments on his podcast regarding the issue of trans athletes, saying he had spoken to experts in the state and on the International Olympic Committee to try to find a “balance” that would work for all sides but had yet to do so.
“I haven’t been able to figure it out,” said Newsom, noting that he isn’t “trying to legislate” via his podcast but have nuanced conversations on myriad topics with people he both agrees and disagrees with. “There is nuance in the world. I am trying to find that. It’s why I am doing this podcast.”
He also defended his record on LGBTQ issues.
“I don’t know there is a bigger champion for LGBTQ rights as an executive in the country, and I mean that, that’s done more over the course of decades than I have,” said Newsom in responding to a reporter’s question. “And so, I am deeply sensitive and empathetic to the community. And I can’t stand those who demonize the community, and bully the community, and talk down and use this to weaponize a political agenda.”
In response to the B.A.R.’s questions regarding his 2024 score from EQCA and if LGBTQ Californians should be concerned about his vetoing LGBTQ-related bills this year, Newsom spokesperson Izzy Gardon also defended the governor’s record when it comes to LGBTQ issues.
"No governor in American history has done more to advance LGBTQ+ equality and protect the rights of transgender people than Gavin Newsom. Full stop," stated Gardon.
In his message for the 2024 scorecard, EQCA Executive Director Tony Hoang made no mention of Newsom’s vetoes or his receiving his lowest score to date, highlighting instead the bills that the governor signed into law. Hoang focused his criticisms on the anti-LGBTQ executive directives being issued by Republican President Donald Trump and praised California Attorney General Rob Bonta for being a “strong ally” in pushing back against the Trump administration in court. (Bonta will be seeking reelection next year.)
“Equality California continues to advance a bold legislative agenda, working closely with the Legislative LGBTQ Caucus, legislative allies, and partner organizations to strengthen protections and ensure that California remains a safe haven for LGBTQ+ people, especially transgender youth and their families, across the country,” wrote Hoang, a gay man.
In an emailed reply, EQCA spokesperson Jorge Reyes Salinas addressed the B.A.R.’s questions about what the organization made of seeing Newsom, touted since 2004 as a champion of LGBTQ rights for ordering city officials when he was San Francisco’s mayor to buck state law and marry same-sex couples, receiving the 4th lowest score of a governor from it and if it was concerning in terms of what bills he may veto this year.
"While Governor Newsom’s score is lower than in previous years, we acknowledge that he has signed impactful pro-equality legislation during his tenure - and has had a long track record of supporting the LGBTQ+ community before he became Governor,” noted Reyes Salinas. “Equality California’s Legislative Scorecard is a transparency and accountability tool for state lawmakers, including the Governor. We hope the scores serve as a constructive signal that our community is paying attention and that we need their support in the fight ahead to strengthen protections in California under the Trump administration.”
As for EQCA’s legislative package this year, Reyes Salinas noted it “is of the essence for LGBTQ+ Californians - specifically, transgender youth and their families when it comes to protection and safety. We continue to encourage the Governor and his administration to engage with us and other LGBTQ+ advocates and legislative partners early and consistently, particularly as our community faces growing attacks nationwide. California must continue to lead with bold, unapologetic action."
Most Democratic legislators earn perfect scores
For the second year in a row, all 12 members of the Legislative LGBTQ Caucus in 2024 received perfect scores from EQCA. They were among the 81 Democrats who earned 100% on the scorecard for last year.
Eight of the party’s Assembly members were dinged points for abstaining, or not voting on, Skinner’s SB 1022, receiving scores of 92%. They included Dr. Jasmeet Bains of Delano, Stephanie Nguyen of Elk Grove, Blanca Pacheco of Downey, Diane Papan of San Mateo, James Ramos of San Bernardino, Michelle Rodriguez of Ontario, and Esmeralda Soria of Merced.
Democrat Carlos Villapudua of Stockton, who left the Assembly last year, earned a 92% score for abstaining from the vote on Senate Bill 729. Authored by lesbian state Senator Caroline Menjivar (D-San Fernando Valley), it requires health plans to provide coverage for fertility care, including treatment for infertility and in vitro fertilization, including to LGBTQ+ people. (Hoang noted Newsom’s signing it into law was “a major win for LGBTQ+ families” in his message with the scorecard.)
Democrats Pilar Schiavo of Los Angeles and Dr. Akilah Weber of San Diego, elected in November to the state Senate, also scored 92%. They also lost points for abstaining on the vote of SB 729.
As for Republican legislators, the overwhelming majority received failing grades. All nine GOP senators scored at 36% or below.
Fourteen GOP Assemblymembers earned scores of 46% or below. A trio earned 85% scores – Juan Alanis of Modesto, Marie Waldron of San Diego and Greg Wallis of Bermuda Dunes. Alanis and Waldron each received scores of 55% from EQCA in 2023.
For the second year in a row Wallis received the highest score given to a GOP member of the Legislature. In 2023, he alone received a score of 73% from EQCA.
In his two bids for Assembly – in 2022 and 2024 – Wallis faced a strong challenge from Democrat Christy Holstege, a bisexual former Palm Springs city councilmember. It remains to be seen if Holstege or another high-profile Democrat will run against him in 2026.
The three Republicans fell short of earning perfect scores from EQCA due to voting against Skinner’s SB 1022 and AB 1955 by gay Assemblymember Chris Ward (D-San Diego), which banned the forced out of LGBTQ students to their parents or legal guardians unless doing so would protect their wellbeing. Signed into law by Newsom, it is now the focus of an investigation by the federal Department of Education that could jeopardize the state’s $8 billion in K-12 school funding it receives from Washington, D.C.
UPDATED 4/8/2025 to correct which bill Democrats Pilar Schiavo of Los Angeles and Dr. Akilah Weber of San Diego abstained from voting on.
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