Ballot Measures

In order to address issues of reproductive justice, education justice, and health justice that systematically impact the LGBTQ community – particularly LGBTQ families and people of color, San Diego Pride is supporting four measures this election cycle – three statewide measures and one local (San Diego City) measure. Please join us in supporting these ballot measures as we address abortion and birth control access, arts and music education, health justice, and reproductive justice in the form of accessible and affordable childcare. 

San Diego Pride’s ballot measure positions are below. 

There are a number of ballot measures we have not taken a position on. We recommend these unbiased resources to learn more about all of the ballot measures: 

• Statewide ballot measures (via League of Women Voters of California Education Fund)
• Local ballot measures – San Diego County (via Voters’ Edge)

    Vote YES for LGBTQ+ health, justice, and opportunity. 

    Vote YES on Prop 1, Prop 28, Prop 31, and Measure H.

San Diego Pride has taken a position on the following measures: 

Statewide Ballot Measures:

• Proposition 1 – Right To Reproductive Freedom: YES
• Proposition 28 – Arts & Music Education Funding: YES
• Proposition 31 – Ban on Flavored Tobacco Sales: YES

City of San Diego Ballot Measures: 

• Measure H – Increases Childcare for Working Families: YES

San Diego Pride encourages a “YES” vote on Proposition 1:
The LGBTQ+ community is at an increased risk of homelessness, housing insecurity, and faces income inequality at a rate far surpassing our

This ballot measure is explicitly and directly connected to ensuring Reproductive Justice, one of the seven pillars that support Pride’s mission. Abortion and contraception are under attack nationwide, and this step by the state of California to affirm and solidify access to reproductive freedom is vital for the safety and health of LGBTQ Californians, including LBQ cisgender women, transgender and non-binary folks, and LGBTQ survivors of violence. Taking a supportive position on this measure is in alignment with the reproductive justice pillar of our Pillars of Justice.  

What is Prop 1?

Proposition 1 would amend the California Constitution to establish a right to reproductive freedom, which is defined to include a right to an abortion and to choose or refuse contraceptives. The amendment states, “The state shall not deny or interfere with an individual’s reproductive freedom in their most intimate decisions, which includes their fundamental right to choose to have an abortion and their fundamental right to choose or refuse contraceptives.”

California has long been a safe haven for abortion access. In 1969 the state Supreme Court ruled that the California constitution’s right to privacy implies the right to an abortion. Reproductive access is also protected by statute. Supporters hope this amendment will reiterate that policy more explicitly and render it harder to reverse in the future. 

Learn more here: Protect Abortion CA

Additional Information: California Proposition 1, Right to Reproductive Freedom Amendment (2022) – Ballotpedia

San Diego Pride encourages a “YES” vote on Proposition 28:

Arts and music are vital to the survival and growth of LGBTQ communities. San Diego Pride’s work regularly incorporates arts and culture of, by, and for the LGBTQ community as a path to freedom and equality for LGBTQ people. Supporting arts education in schools is important for our own programs and partner projects (Youth Marching Band, Queer Youth Chorus, Youth programs in general) as well as indirectly supporting our primary annual fundraiser (the Pride festival and parade). Across the state, it’s disproportionately students of color and low-income students that lack access to arts education in their public school systems. Students that have access to arts education have higher rates of success financially and emotionally, which can help level the playing field especially for multiply marginalized LGBTQ students. Taking a supportive position on this measure is in alignment with the economic justice pillar of our Pillars of Justice.  

What is Prop 28?

Sponsored by former Los Angeles Unified School District superintendent Austin Beutner, this measure would require the state to set aside a share of its revenue — likely between $800 million to $1 billion per year — for arts and education classes. The new money would be disproportionately reserved for schools with many low-income students to hire new arts staff. 

Learn more here: Vote Arts and Music

Additional Information: California Proposition 28, Art and Music K-12 Education Funding Initiative (2022) – Ballotpedia

San Diego Pride encourages a “YES” vote on Proposition 31:

San Diego Pride has a long history of pushing back against the tobacco industry’s predatory tactics that disproportionately target the LGBTQ community. Flavored tobacco is one of those tactics that targets LGBTQ community members AND youth, and studies show that flavored tobacco may be even more addictive than regular tobacco products. In the past, we have pushed back through our sponsor agreements by not allowing sponsorships from tobacco companies – this has been our practice for at least two decades. Taking a supportive position on this ballot measure is in alignment with both Pride’s prior practices and the health justice pillar of our Pillars of Justice.  

What is Prop 31?

Opponents of Proposition 31 seek to overturn Senate Bill 793 (SB 793), which was signed into law on August 28, 2020. SB 793 was designed to ban the sale of flavored tobacco products and tobacco product flavor enhancers, with exceptions for hookah tobacco, loose leaf tobacco, and premium cigars. Retailers would be fined $250 for each sale violating the law.

A YES vote would uphold the law. A NO vote would overturn it. 

Learn more here: Yes on 31 to Protect California Kids

Additional Information: California Proposition 31, Flavored Tobacco Products Ban Referendum (2022) – Ballotpedia

In the San Diego region, over 74,000 children under the age of five lack access to licensed childcare. Measure H would allow working families to not have to make the difficult choice between losing their job or taking care of their children.

Access to affordable and accessible licensed childcare is an LGBTQIA+ issue because LGBTQIA+ parents are disproportionately likely to have poor economic  outcomes, driven in large part by social stigma and ongoing discrimination. Studies using the most recent Census data show that LGBTQIA+ parents in same-gender couples – particularly women –  have lower family incomes than different-gender parents. (Brookings, 2022) While we have minimal data specifically about transgender parents, we do know that at least 19% of transgender adults are parents (Williams Institute, 2020) – the majority (53%) of transgender parents are women, transgender Americans experience significant economic challenges (Carpenter and Gonzalez, 2020). 

We also know that LGBTQIA+ individuals are more likely to be alienated from their families of origin, which creates an additional barrier and challenge for informal childcare, meaning that it is reasonable to assume that LGBTQIA+ parents are more likely to rely on formal, licensed childcare for their children. 

While San Diego Pride recognizes that we will need to ensure that childcare providers in these public facilities are LGBTQIA+ inclusive in their care, this measure would provide an avenue for additional childcare in the region, expanding opportunities for LGBTQIA+ parents to find accessible and affordable childcare. Taking a supportive position on this ballot measure is in alignment with the economic justice and reproductive justice pillars of our Pillars of Justice. 

What is Measure H? 

Measure H will amend Charter Section 55 to authorize childcare in recreation facilities and buildings on dedicated parkland. This measure has been placed on the ballot by the San Diego City Council.

The YMCA of San Diego County Childcare Resource Service reports that from March 2020 until April 2021, 522 childcare providers closed in San Diego County. Given the rising demand for childcare and anticipation that childcare services will likely not return to prior levels, the City of San Diego has identified a final list of potential childcare facilities including 18 libraries, 42 park and recreation centers, and 12 office buildings. City Council now desires to amend Article V, Section 55 of the Charter to authorize childcare in recreational facilities and buildings on dedicated parkland.

Learn more here: Measure H