If You Want a Utilities Contract in California, Be Prepared to Prove How Gay You Are

As the nation endures Pride Month, most Americans, even many gay Americans, just want to be left alone to live their lives. If you live in middle America, that might be a bit easier to do, but in places like New York and California, until July 1, it's all rainbows all the time. Now, in California, regulators think they have come up with one more way to "make life easier" for the LGBT community. But first, a little test.

If California hits its target, “LGBT-owned businesses” will receive $633 million in contracts. Putting aside the imposition of such agendas on companies at a time of rising energy costs, the certification process for being an LGBT business is astonishing. https://t.co/fiSw6VTl97
— Jonathan Turley (@JonathanTurley) June 18, 2026

If you happen to be an LGBT-owned utility contractor in the Golden State, you may qualify to receive "supplier-diversity benefits" from the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC). Hey, sounds great. Well, not so fast. First, your business must meet a set of "qualifiers" from the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC).

Qualifiers? You mean, you can't just tell people you are gay or transgender? Nope. Turns out, this is serious business for the NGLCC. So, what are the qualifiers? They include, but are not limited to, affidavit-backed letters from at least three people unaffiliated with the business who will attest to the applicant's LGBT status. But your friends attesting to your gayness or transgenderness is not enough. Applicants must also have a letter from a physician or therapist that confirms transgender status, or, in place of a letter, some evidence of "discriminatory action" the applicant suffered because of their LGBT status. That discrimination could be from an HR report, a police report, or court records.

But if an applicant comes up short on any of these qualifiers, not to worry. They can also show evidence of “completed or attempted parenting and family-building efforts” of the applicant and their same-sex partner. Adoption records, proof of an in-vitro fertilization procedure, or surrogate mother agreements would also qualify applicants for the benefits.

California is pressuring public utilities to award $633M in contracts to "LGBT-owned" firms. The state's official gay-certification program has issued this checklist of documents to prove your status.

And a warning: you'll go to jail if you misrepresent your sexual identity. pic.twitter.com/sPI2rq41cb
— Christopher F. Rufo ⚔️ (@christopherrufo) June 16, 2026

The CPUC, which regulates privately owned utility companies, began the "Supplier Diversity Program" back in the 80s to promote minority- and women-owned contracting businesses, but, of course, expanded the program to include LGBT-owned businesses as well. Supplier Clearinghouse certifies businesses under the program, and they accept letters from organizations like the NGLCC for certification of LGBT-owned businesses.

ALSO READ: Harmeet Dhillon Comes After Colorado: No, You Can't Force AI Companies to Belch Out DEI Drivel

But the obvious question is, how do you certify that someone is gay? It's this kind of insanity that is a perfect illustration of where we are in 2026, especially in June. But it gets even better. A new report from the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation is demanding that Artificial Intelligence (AI) developers make their products...wait for it...gayer. They want homophobic speech removed from the products without "removing gay expression."

The Supplier Diversity Program has gotten the attention of U.S. Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon, who said on Wednesday that she has opened up an inquiry into the program, which could net LGBT-owned utility contractors roughly $633 million a year.

That's a pretty lucrative gig...if you can prove it.

Another reason your CA utility bills are too damn high:

California Will Now Certify Firms as 'Gay' https://t.co/cJ9ABpjoZV
— Short on Cash (@Unkept_Republic) June 17, 2026

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