Support Street Harassment Prevention Budget Proposal

California State Legislators

Assemblymembers Mia Bonta, Al Muratsuchi, and Dr. Akilah Weber are leading the budget proposal, with Stop AAPI Hate and California Healthy Nail Salon Collaborative as sponsors, for a one-time investment of $55.1 million (General Fund) in the 2022-23 state budget to be allocated over five years to prevent the street harassment of women, transwomen, and other vulnerable communities in California.


Street harassment in public spaces has unfortunately become normalized and is inadequately addressed by current laws. 71% of women in the United States have experienced street harassment in their lifetime. Women and girls (trans and cis), the elderly, people with disabilities, Black, Latina, Asian, and LGBTQ+ communities are often targets of street harassment.

Despite its grave consequences and disproportionate impact on trans and cis women, and other vulnerable groups, street harassment is not taken seriously and exists on the periphery of public policy solutions.

This budget proposal would raise awareness of and prevent street harassment in California. By taking a public health approach to reduce street harassment of trans and cis women and other vulnerable communities, this budget proposal would fund:

  • A five year, statewide public education campaign by the California Department of Public Health to raise awareness of street harassment. The campaign would focus on the general population and targeted populations (i.e., racial/ethnic communities, LGBTQ+, and communities that do not have a proficiency in English).
  • Quantitative and qualitative research by the University of California at San Diego’s Center on Gender Equity and Health on the extent and impact of street harassment statewide, including policy recommendations to the Legislature and Governor. The Center would conduct two studies, one at the start and at the end of the public education campaign and one at its conclusion to understand the impact of the campaign.

Please help pass this important budget proposal, which would make California the first state in the nation to address street harassment statewide. Add your voice by signing this petition to say that street harassment needs to end.

Please reach out to Lisa Fu (lfu@cahealthynailsalons.org) or Shanti Elise Prasad (sprasad@caasf.org) if you have any questions.

#NoPlaceForHateCA


Co-Sponsored by




To: California State Legislators
From: [Your Name]

I am writing to express my strong support of this budget proposal and respectfully ask for your support, to protect our most vulnerable communities.

This budget proposal would raise awareness of and prevent street harassment in California. By taking a public health approach to reduce street harassment of trans and cis women and other vulnerable communities, this budget proposal would fund a five year, statewide public education campaign by the California Department of Public Health to raise awareness of street harassment.

The street harassment of women and other vulnerable communities is pervasive, common, and global. Street harassment in public spaces has become normalized, is often dismissed, and is inadequately addressed by current laws.

According to reports by the UC San Diego Center of Gender Equity & Health and Stop Street Harassment, lesbian or bisexual women experience more sexual harassment than heterosexual women and Black and Latina women experience more street harassment than white women. The Stop AAPI Hate coalition also found that since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, Asian American and Pacific Islander women in California were and still are experiencing unprecedented levels of street harassment in their daily lives.

Despite its grave consequences and disproportionate impact on women and other vulnerable groups, street harassment is often overlooked and exists on the periphery of public policy solutions. In contrast, state and federal laws prohibit gender-based harassment in the workplace and in educational settings as unlawful discrimination.

Please help pass this important budget proposal, which would make California the first state in the nation to address street harassment statewide.