Show your support for AB91, "MENA Inclusion Act."

California has the largest MENA population in the U.S., with almost one million members (3.4% of California’s “White” population, alone or in any combination.) The top three largest MENA groups in California are Iranian, Lebanese, and Egyptian. Despite this, California does not have a statewide standard to collect data from individuals with MENA heritage or have legislation recognizing them. Instead, individuals who identify as MENA are placed within the white category.

By ignoring the MENA population, there is serious concern about underrepresentation, inadequate resource allocation, and severe quality of life oversight in education, health, and civil rights. What is not measured, cannot be improved.

Including a MENA category leads to several benefits, including more access to aid, government services, and protections against bias and discrimination against MENA populations. But most importantly, it recognizes a population that has often been ignored, dehumanized, and othered by systemic ignorance.

If passed, this bill would require state and local agencies that collect ethnic demographic data to use separate collection categories for major MENA populations to include that data in every demographic report published starting 2027.

Creating a distinct MENA category will ensure that our communities are no longer invisible in the data that shapes critical policies and programs. This is about dignity, equity, and justice for millions of Californians.

Arab American Civic Council, Armenian-American Action Network, American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) and Iranian American Democrats of California are sponsors of this bill.

This is our chance to make history, but we need YOUR voice to push it through. We are counting on your leadership to make this change happen.