California Assemblyman Miguel Santiago (D-Los Angeles) and Sen. Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) recently joined a group of legislators who introduced a bill that appropriates $15 million to the Transgender Wellness and Equity Fund.

The fund will provide grants to transgender-led nonprofits in California to help transgender, gender non-conforming, and intersex individuals gain access to healthcare and social services. AB 2218 is sponsored by the TransLatin@ Coalition, a transgender-led nonprofit in downtown Los Angeles that provides direct supportive services.

“Everyone should have equal access to healthcare regardless of their gender identity,” Santiago said. “California’s TGI community is facing obstacles in receiving safe, non-discriminatory, comprehensive care and that must change. This fund will provide transgender-led organizations the means to create their own programs where they can provide safe, competent and TGI-inclusive healthcare and other social services.”

“Transgender people often struggle to access healthcare due to discrimination, stigma, and poverty,” added Wiener, chairman of the California Legislative LGBTQ Caucus. “California must prioritize the health of our trans community, and this funding will move us firmly in that direction.”

The Williams Institute at the UCLA School of Law estimates that at least 218,400 individuals identify as transgender in California. Despite representing a significant portion of California’s population, members of the TGI population are often left out of conversations regarding medical and mental healthcare policy and experience difficulty accessing inclusive healthcare, the lawmakers said.

According to a 2015 study, approximately 33% of TGI people in California who saw a health care provider in the past year had encountered at least one negative experience related to being transgender. Additionally, many transgender people must pay out of pocket for transition-related care, including hormones and transition surgery.

To address these inequities, AB 2218 would establish the first state funding to provide medical and mental health services and housing for TGI people.

“Our governor and Assembly member Santiago are committed to elevating the health of all Californians,” said Bamby Salcedo, president and CEO of TransLatin@ Coalition. “Allocating funds in our budget to support building a healthy transgender, gender non-conforming and intersex community across California will set precedence for other states to understand the importance of building the health of all communities.”

AB 2218 will likely be heard in a policy committee in April.