Marty Block and Equality California hope the Equality and Equal Access in Higher Education bill formally known as AB 620, will end bullying and harassment against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender students and staff at the university and college level across the state. 

The bill, passed by the assembly on Sept. 6, and signed by Gov. Jerry Brown Oct. 8, includes provisions for the student code of conduct to include a policy on harassment and funds for special staff to address to the needs of the LGBT students and staff.

“With more and more legislation being passed to protect the LGBT community, the idea of ‘equality for all’ doesn’t seem so farfetched anymore,” said Tyler Daniel Gillett, 19, vice president of De Anza College’s Gay-Straight Alliance. “Bills such as AB 620 show that the decades of activism and self-sacrifice by members of the LGBT community and allies alike have been so significant, worthwhile, and in many cases have even been life-altering.”

The bill made it mandatory for universities and colleges to include form options for students to fill out information on their sexual orientation and gender identity as they would with gender, race and ethnicity. It also broadened the definition of gender to include “gender expression” and “gender identity.”

De Anza College has just begun implementing the legislation and making adjustments to the code. Currently, there are no events planned, but creating awareness of the resources available to LGBT students is a top priority for the club and school, according to Gillett.

“One of my main concerns with this bill is the funding that will be required for it and where we’ll be getting that money during a time filled with economic strife and budget cuts,” Gillett said. “I’m worried that with improper funding the faculty training will be more of a Cliff’s Notes version instead of a full-length book.”

The bill also contains provisions for training staff and campus faculty to help LGBT students in handling any form of harassment or segregation. How and when the bill will be implemented at the De Anza campus is uncertain.

“I greatly, greatly hope that this bill will do all that it plans to,” said Gillett. “It has the potential to protect countless students from harassment and hopefully spread knowledge and awareness to communities all around the state.”

Gillett said he wishes for the students at De Anza College to not be afraid to get involved. “Your involvement and activism in any field could make a great impact to someone’s life,” he said.