A deeply LGBTQI+ land
Habits die hard: a stronghold of the counter-culture and movements to challenge the American way of life in the 1960s, California continues to develop on the bangs of the United States. Today, this is reflected in its determination to become a sanctuary for abortion. In 2023, at a time when 16 states prohibit the right to abortion, it is taking steps to legally welcome women from all over the country, with a package of 13 laws designed to facilitate access to abortion and reduce its cost. Governor Gavin Newsom has pledged a budget of $125 million for this project.
Considered one of the most liberal jurisdictions in the world, the Golden State is particularly gay-friendly, as evidenced by the popular West Hollywood district in Los Angeles and the Castro district in San Francisco. It's here, in the cradle of the country's LGBTQI+ rights, that the community has its roots. It all began on the night of June 28, 1969, in New York, when yet another police raid on a gay bar prompted patrons to revolt. A year later, the city organized the first Gay Pride March, along with Los Angeles and San Francisco. With the sexual liberation inherited from the Summer of Love, held there in 1967, San Francisco established itself as a small haven of peace. Little by little, a community from all over the U.S. formed around activist Harvey Milk, who arrived in the city in 1972.
The first openly gay elected official in California - in 1978 - he sponsored an essential bill prohibiting discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation in the allocation of employment and public housing. He was assassinated the following year. This was the first blow to the community, which suffered a major setback in 2008: the "annulment" of the legalization of marriage for all, the right to which had been obtained five and a half months earlier. It was not until 2013 that same-sex couples were officially able to marry. Since then, laws defending the rights of the LGBTQI+ community have multiplied: a year later, a text imposing respect for the identity of transgender students in Californian schools came into force. They can now use the toilets or changing rooms of their choice and take part in non-mixed-sex activities, for example. Another advance is the possibility for transgender people to change their gender on official documents, even if they have not undergone surgery.
A quasi total legalization of cannabis
The Golden State is also among the most advanced states regarding the legalization of recreational cannabis. A decision that began to mature in 2015, when the market for cannabis sold for therapeutic purposes reached a few billion dollars nationwide. Considerable, the revenue interests several territories of the country, pushing some politicians to consider the total decriminalization of cannabis. Thus, on the sidelines of the November 2016 presidential election, many voters are being asked to vote on referendums on the subject.
It's official: California is the first western territory to jump the gun. It will be closely followed by Nevada, the same year, and then by Arizona, in November 2020. From now on, it will be difficult to miss the numerous dispensaries installed here and there in the streets, similar to real delicatessens, with a choice of products that is beyond comprehension. On the other hand, since Utah has a Mormon majority - a cult that outlaws drugs - it only accepts the use of cannabis for medical reasons, and this since November 2018.
The land of free speech
Such is the progressive nature of the American West that it is frequently seen as the Western world's laboratory of ideas. For example, it was a Hollywood actress - Alyssa Milano - who launched the #MeToo movement on Twitter on October 15, 2017, in response to accusations of rape, abuse of power and sexual harassment against producer Harvey Weinstein. A freedom of expression characteristic of the country, the land of wokism - a term for being aware, "awake", of the injustices suffered by ethnic, sexual and religious minorities - and social justice warriors, the pejorative appellation used to describe defenders of societal advances often perceived as extreme or, at the very least, too self-righteous.
This tendency to communicate one's opinions also manifests itself in "real life". If parodies of the average American - such as the TV series The Simpsons and American Dad! - depict him standing in front of his house, a large flag in his country's colors at his side, the reality is not so far removed. Here, people are proud to be American, and they don't hesitate to show it: the same goes for personal convictions. It's not uncommon, for example, to pass gates emblazoned with rainbow stickers in support of the LGBTQIA+ community, the words "Black Lives Matter" or a photo of Donald Trump - even after Joe Biden replaced him as president. In the same way, flaunting one's wealth is not frowned upon; on the contrary. Where a Frenchman might say, "Je gagne bien ma vie" ("I earn a good living"), an American would claim, "Je gagne 10 000 dollars par mois" ("I earn $10,000 a month").
Moreover, smoking is nowhere near as popular as it is in France. While France has 24% of smokers, the USA has only 12.5% - a figure that has fallen since 2005, when it was 20.9%. Utah, the world cradle of Mormon theology - where smoking is banned - has the fewest smokers nationwide, at 9%. California, Arizona and Nevada have 11.2%, 14% and 15.7% respectively. This may come as a surprise to some of the world's biggest tobacco companies. Nevertheless, smoking bans abound: in addition to the ban on smoking in most restaurants, bars and casinos, some cities also prohibit smoking in parks, on beaches and at bus stops.
Finally, unlike in France, accessibility for the disabled is an integral part of society in the American West: even national and state parks have paths designed for wheelchairs - without spoiling the place. A true example in the field.
