The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors has taken a significant step by approving a motion to investigate the establishment of an Office of Gender Equity. This initiative, proposed by Supervisor Lindsey Horvath and passed with a 4-0 vote, aims to combat gender-based discrimination within county governance. Supervisor Kathryn Barger was not present during the vote.
Supervisor Horvath emphasized the need for focused and coordinated efforts towards gender equity. She remarked, “Our gender equity work has been siloed without a central entity responsible for this mission. An Office of Gender Equity would change that.”
The board has directed the county’s Chief Executive Office and Department of Public Health to collaborate with County Counsel. They are to present a detailed report within 60 days. This report should outline potential locations within the county government for the office, existing resources and programs that could support it, and a clear timeline for its formation.
Additionally, Supervisor Holly Mitchell successfully proposed an amendment. This amendment seeks to avoid redundancy by assessing current county efforts toward gender equity. “We need to pause and evaluate. Identifying existing gaps will help us understand what work remains and how to allocate resources,” Mitchell explained.
This motion follows the conclusion of the county’s Women and Girls Initiative in 2024. Launched in 2016, the initiative was designed to address systemic gender inequities. Its temporary nature prompted calls for a more permanent solution.“A permanent County entity is necessary to lead and coordinate this work, especially when women and gender-nonconforming individuals face challenges to their rights, health care, and safety,” Horvath stated in an email.