TAKE ACTION NOW! Urge Governor Gavin Newsom to Sign AB 1487 Into Law
AB 1487: Renaming & Expanding the Two-Spirit, Transgender, Gender Nonconforming, and Intersex Wellness and Equity Fund
Honoring Two-Spirit Identity, Centering Our Voices
With AB 1487, we’re not just renaming a fund—we’re reclaiming space. The bill changes the name of the TGI Wellness and Equity Fund to the Two-Spirit, Transgender, Gender Nonconforming, and Intersex Wellness and Equity Fund, finally recognizing and honoring our Two-Spirit relatives. This is about visibility, respect, and cultural healing. This is about naming us—all of us.
What does Two Spirit mean? The term “Two-Spirit” was first adopted in 1990 at the Third Annual Intertribal Native American/First Nations Gay and Lesbian Conference near Winnipeg, Canada, as a translation of the Anishinaabe term niizh manidoowag (“two spirits”). The term was intended to serve as a unifying, pan-Indigenous expression to describe Native people who embody diverse gender roles, identities, and spiritual responsibilities that have existed since time immemorial. It is important that state policy and law promote cultural understanding, and protect the dignity of all Indigenous peoples, including those who live and organize under the Two-Spirit umbrella.
Investing in Our Future, On Our Terms
This bill doesn’t stop at symbolism—it puts action behind the promise of equity. AB 1487 expands access to grant funds for programs that meet the real needs of our community:
Workforce development for 2TGI folks trying to thrive in a system that wasn’t built for us
Resettlement and integration support for 2TGI immigrants and asylees navigating survival in a new land
Diversion programs and outreach for our 2TGI youth, offering them opportunity instead of incarceration
Mental Health: AB 1487 boldly expands the definition of health care to include mental health support.
ACTION 1:
EMAIL THE GOVERNOR A LETTER OF SUPPORT
📣Take Action! Email a letter of support to the governor’s office
[insert organizational logo or letterhead]
If you are signing on as an organization, please use your organization's letterhead as well as a signature. For professionals, please include your name and title at the bottom for identification purposes.
EMAIL LETTER TO: leg.unit@gov.ca.gov
cc: beec@translatinacoalition.org
Subject line: AB 1487 (Addis) - Request for Signature
Sample Email
RE: SUPPORT: AB 1487–[Addis]: Two-Spirit, Transgender, Gender Nonconforming, and Intersex (2TGI) Wellness and Equity Fund
Dear Governor Gavin Newsom,
[Organization Name] is pleased to express our full support for AB 1487, authored by Assemblymember Addis. This critical bill would establish the Two-Spirit Transgender, Gender Variant, and Intersex Wellness and Equity Fund (2TGI), administered by the California Department of Public Health, with funding subject to appropriation. The fund aims to create and expand community-based programs that serve two-spirit transgender, gender variant, and intersex (2TGI) individuals in critical areas throughout California.
As an organization committed to supporting marginalized communities' rights and well-being, we believe this legislation will provide essential resources for 2TGI individuals who face increasing vulnerability. We fully support the establishment of the 2TGI Wellness and Equity Fund, as it will provide necessary services for the 2TGI community. Additionally, the creation of the Two-Spirit, Transgender, Gender Nonconforming, and Intersex (2TGI) Wellness and Equity Fund under AB 1487 aligns closely with our mission. We are particularly supportive of the following components of the bill:
Workforce development training for 2TGI individuals, as well as programs to support social integration and resettlement of 2TGI asylees and immigrants.
Diversion programs and outreach to transitional-age TGI youth, addressing the unique needs of this vulnerable group.
Grants for 2TGI-serving organizations to increase the capacity of healthcare professionals in providing trans-inclusive care, including cultural competency training and development of educational materials.
Funding for therapeutic arts programs, such as dancing, painting, or writing, to promote emotional healing.
Support for identifying and referring 2TGI people to access supportive housing, including case management and financial assistance.
Grants to medical providers for the continuation or establishment of gender-affirming health care services.
These provisions are critical in ensuring that 2TGI people receive the holistic support they need, from healthcare to housing to workforce training, to successfully reintegrate into society.
[Insert organization’s name] respectfully urges you to sign in AB 1487. This legislation represents a meaningful step forward in addressing the systemic inequalities that 2TGI individuals face. By supporting AB 1487, you will help ensure that 2TGI people have access to the resources and services they need to rebuild their lives and thrive in society.
Thank you for your attention to this crucial issue. We look forward to your support for this important legislation.
Sincerely,
Signature
Name
Title
Organization
ACTION 2:
CALL THE GOVERNOR’S OFFICE TO EXPRESS YOUR SUPPORT
📞 Phone Script – Call the Governor’s Office!
Phone Number: (916) 445-2841
Phone Script
“Hello, my name is [Your Name], and I live in [City/County]. I’m calling to respectfully urge Governor Newsom to sign AB 1487 into law.
This bill is vital because it expands the state fund to include Two-Spirit, Transgender, and Gender-Expansive communities, who are too often left out of life-saving programs.
It provides:
Workforce development opportunities so 2TGI people can thrive in a system not built for us.
Resettlement and integration support for 2TGI immigrants and asylees who are navigating survival in a new land.
Diversion programs and outreach for 2TGI youth, giving them opportunity instead of incarceration.
Mental health services so our communities can heal and flourish.
Governor Newsom, this is a chance to show real leadership in equity, safety, and inclusion. I respectfully ask the Governor to sign AB 1487.
Thank you for your time and for supporting California’s most vulnerable communities.”
