Gavin Newsom moves to shield California transgender patient records from federal scrutiny

California is adding new medical privacy protections for LGBTQ+ adults facing federal subpoenas and expanding access to injectable medicines for HIV prevention.That is thanks to a spate of six new bills passed by the Democratic-led state legislature and signed into law by Gov. Gavin Newsom on Saturday. Newsom said he signed the bills to strengthen LGBTQ+ rights in the state amid a federal crackdown on such protections.“The Trump administration has launched an all-out assault on the LGBTQ community, using medical records to target U.S. servicemembers and civilians alike, hurting countless people and betraying hard-won trust,” Newsom said in a Saturday press release. “California will not stand for it.”Related: Gov. Gavin Newsom again under fire for comments on trans athletes & pronounsOne bill places new requirements on medical providers in California before they can hand over sensitive patient records in response to federal investigations and subpoenas, including those pertaining to abortion access and gender-affirming care.Providers must notify the California Attorney General’s Office if they receive such subpoenas and meet other conditions, according to the text of Assembly Bill 1930.The bill comes as hospitals nationwide have faced subpoenas from the Trump administration seeking far-reaching access to patient records and internal communications regarding gender-affirming care services provided to minors.The subpoenas and related funding threats have halted gender-affirming care programs for minors nationwide. Several hospitals have struck deals with the federal government to keep their youth programs closed."California cannot allow hostile jurisdictions to use our institutions to target patients and providers for health care that is lawful in our state," said the bill’s lead sponsor, a California Assemblymember, a Democrat representing western Los Angeles. "AB 1930 gives our Attorney General an important opportunity to step in when private information