Senator Wiener’s Legislation Would Ensure Incarcerated Transgender People Are Housed According to their Gender Identity

by Victor Ruiz-Cornejo

Sacramento, Sept 13, 2019 –

Today, Senator Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) issued the following statement regarding SB 132, his legislation requiring that incarcerated transgender individuals in the custody of the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) be classified and housed based on their sense of health, safety, and gender identity.

Senator Wiener and the coalition supporting the bill have decided to make SB 132 a two-year bill in order to continue to work on the bill’s policy:

“Transgender people in our prison system are among the most marginalized people in society, and we must protect them. This is an important issue, and it takes time to get it right. While we’ve made significant progress moving the ball forward this year — and while I’m 100% confident that we have the votes to place the bill on the Governor’s desk — we need more time to come to a solution that works for the community, for CDCR, and for the Governor.

"I’m highly confident that SB 132 will pass next year, and California, once again, will be in the forefront of LGBT civil rights. Over the fall recess, I will join community leaders to visit several state prisons to meet with transgender people who are incarcerated there. This listening tour will help us craft the best legislation possible. We will also work closely with CDCR and the Governor. I look forward to SB 132 moving forward in January.”

Victor Ruiz-Cornejo is the Communications Director for Senator Scott Wiener