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Jamie Marquis can’t count the number of times they’ve been called the wrong name.

A junior psychology major at the University of California, Davis, who identifies as non-binary, they changed their name several years ago. But since then they’ve struggled to get that name even on basic educational records, instead of their name assigned at birth that they do not identify with, commonly known as a deadname.

“I wish that there was a way to really explain to cisgender people how being deadnamed feels,” Marquis said. “It’s humiliating. It makes you feel out of place and unwelcome, because of all the things about your identity, even your name is being ignored.”

A new state law could make a huge difference for people like them, Marquis said. Not only could it ease anxiety, but it could also provide important protections from discrimination and harm.

The new law, which takes effect on Jan. 1, requires the state’s public colleges to update records for students who have legally changed their names. It also allows graduates to request an updated copy of their diploma at no cost to them.

Then, starting with the 2023-24 class, it will require institutions to allow students to self-identify their names on diplomas, even without legal documentation of a name change. (The legislation does not specifically require colleges to let students self-identify their names on educational records besides diplomas without legally changing their name. It also does not affect how people are identified on legal documents used for tax, immigration status and other purposes.)

“It’s humiliating. It makes you feel out of place and unwelcome, because of all the things about your identity, even your name is being ignored.”
— Jamie Marquis, junior psychology major at the University of California, Davis

California is the first state to enact such a law. A previous version failed in the Legislature in 2020.

The right to self-identify one’s name on a college diploma helps protect transgender and gender non-conforming students, advocates say. Research shows that transgender people are at higher risk of discrimination and violence.

More than one in four trans people has experienced a “bias-driven assault”, with rates even higher for trans women and trans people of color, according to the National Center for Transgender Equality.

Academic records listing a student’s name and gender as assigned at birth could potentially “out” that student’s identity, which can put them at a significant disadvantage when seeking housing and employment, said David Chiu, who authored the bill while representing San Francisco in the state Assembly. Chiu, now the San Francisco city attorney, said he was asked by Equality California and other transgender activist groups to draft the bill.

“A college diploma represents years of hard work and academic achievement,” Chiu said in an interview. “It shouldn’t cause stress or harm by having someone’s deadname on it because of outdated school policies.”

No statewide policy

In California, public colleges have been using a range of policies about what names they record on diplomas and in other records, as no statewide policy existed. In November 2020, the University of California system put in place a policy — the Presidential Policy on Gender Recognition and Lived Name — that ensures that all individuals are identified by their accurate gender identity and preferred name on university-issued documents and in UC’s information systems.

At California State University and the California Community Colleges, there have been no system-wide policies, spokespersons said. But the two systems support the new state law, they said.

Some campuses have put their own policies in place. American River College in Sacramento County, for example, adopted an affirmed name policy in 2019, which allows students to change their names in campus computer systems, and in early 2020, to self identify their name on their diplomas.

The change, college officials said, has been powerful and emotional for students. Emilie Mitchell, interim dean of social and behavioral sciences at American River College, described her experience helping a former student change their name in the college’s computer system.

“This person was just crying when they were talking about going into classes, and professors often read the roster out loud, and it was their deadname,” Mitchell said. She said she could hear the retraumatization they experienced.

Within five minutes, Mitchell was able to change the student’s name in the system.

“I thought, that’s such a small thing, right?” Mitchell said. “All I did was click a couple of boxes, literally, but this person’s experience, their educational experience, their sense of being validated in their identity, was so profound.”

Eli Fox, a junior psychology major at California State University, Monterey Bay, changed their name during their first few months of college but said they had to deal with a lot of stress due to their deadname being on high school documents.

“It was really tricky to get everything to line up,” Fox said. “There are a lot of school administrative people who aren’t really educated, and it was really difficult trying to educate them and also advocate for myself.”

High-school teachers, college professors, and administrators have often resisted respecting their name or helping them change their school documents, Fox said. They often asked Fox invasive questions about their transition that made them feel like they were just being nosy.

“No one should have to explain their identity or justify the way that they are to anybody,” Fox said.

Fox said they are relieved to see the law pass, as it will make the process easier for future students like them. Fox aspires to use their degree in psychology to work in data gathering and research, and wants to continue their education in biopsychology, and incorporate social theory into science.

Fox says they have gained so much knowledge just from being queer and being around queer people. They hope to help show LGBTQ+ youth of the future to be proud of who they are while looking different or feeling different.

Reducing anxiety

Michelle Haggerty, a psychology professor who advises the Queer Student Union at College of the Redwoods in Eureka, said the new state law will help to reduce the anxiety of both students and professors and to create a more accepting environment on campus. If students are able to update their names on school records before the semester starts, it will erase any awkward scenarios where the professor may deadname a student by accident, Haggerty said.

She also said this new policy will help students after they graduate, lessening how much they may have to explain their name or who they are to future employers. Haggerty has known students who have quit their jobs due to discrimination and invasive questions about their transitions, she said.

“Depending on where you are, it makes people feel unsafe,” Haggerty said of being transgender or gender non-conforming. “Different industries and different communities will look at these things differently… I think it’s hard to make a judgment on ‘Am I safe or not?’ and ‘Who can I reveal these aspects of myself to?’”

“A college diploma represents years of hard work and academic achievement. It shouldn’t cause stress or harm by having someone’s deadname on it because of outdated school policies.”
— David Chiu, who authored the bill while in the state Assembly

The new law could help protect cisgender college students, too.

Linda Johnson — a sophomore at College of the Redwoods who has earned a bachelor’s degree from Pomona College and a master’s degree from Fuller Theological Seminary — said that she was unable to have her maiden name printed on her diploma. At a time when she was going through a divorce from an abusive spouse, she wasn’t able to feel happy or excited when she received her diploma. Instead, she didn’t even want to look at it.

“It would have been so much easier if I could have gone and said ‘This is what I want’ without having to wait for all of the legalities to catch up,” Johnson said.

Marquis, the Davis student who is also an American River College graduate, remembers the anxiety of a day when they walked up to the counter of the community college’s records and admissions office to update their academic records. Had they forgotten a document? Would they be met with help or hindrance?

“It’s so awkward and uncomfortable to have to go up to every teacher, every front desk staff, every doctor, and explain the situation,” they said. “And it’s draining to constantly be polite to the people that want to tell you all about how hard it is for them to remember.”

When the process went smoothly, they felt a sense of bewildered relief. But their name-change journey still wasn’t over. When they transferred to UC, they had to present records from high school which still used their deadname.

Now, Marquis hopes the new law will remove some of these roadblocks — and that that could help them finally just be themselves at ease.

As a beacon of hope, Marquis aspires to take this experience with them as they enter the field of psychology after college and work with mentally ill queer children, letting them know it is ok to be themselves, whoever that may be.

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Taylor is a fellow with the CalMatters College Journalism Network, a collaboration between CalMatters and student journalists from across California. This story and other higher education coverage are supported by the College Futures Foundation.

CALmatters.org is a nonprofit, nonpartisan media venture explaining California policies and politics.

Dr. William Forbes Murison
January 26, 1927 - November 29, 2021

On November 29, two months shy of his 95th birthday, Bill Murison passed away peacefully at Sequoia Springs in Fortuna with his beloved wife of 70 years, Eve, by his side. Bill was born January 26, 1927 in Glasgow, Scotland to parents Jean Black Swan, a seamstress, and Forbes Murison, an architect.

After serving in the Royal Navy for two years, Bill started his college education in 1947 at Edinburgh University. He received his Bachelor of Science in Forestry in 1951 from the University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada then returned to Scotland to marry Ailsa “Eve” Cameron. They were wed in Saint Andrews on September 29, 1951 and within a few weeks they said farewell to family and friends to start their new life in British Columbia. Bill greatly valued education and went on to further his studies receiving a scholarship to Harvard University where he obtained his masters degree in forestry in 1956. He then returned to the University of British Columbia and completed his Ph.D in 1960.

Over the course of his lifetime Bill lived many places, always believing that relocating provided an opportunity to learn about a new area and opened the door to new friendships. Bill worked as a Forester in Nakusp, British Columbia, a small town that was always near and dear to his heart. He worked as a biologist for Harvard University, held the positions of Professor of Forestry, Dean of Public Services, and Dean of Continuing Education at Humboldt State University. He served as President of Selkirk College in Castlegar, British Columbia, Associate Vice President of Cal State University Fullerton, and Director of the Los Angeles Basin Educational Liaison.

It was Humboldt County, however, where Bill spent the majority of his life and where he chose to retire. He loved Humboldt County, the environment and the people. He enjoyed the challenges and opportunities of his work with the community. In the 1970s and 80s he had a hand in establishing community programs such as the Open Door Clinic and United Indian Health Services, and was involved with organizations such as the United Way, The Humboldt Library Board and Foundation, the Boy Scouts of America, the First Presbyterian Church of Eureka, the First Presbyterian Church of Blue Lake, the North Coast Scottish Society, the Arcata Chamber of Commerce, and the McKinleyville Chamber of Commerce to name a few. Bill gave generously of his time and talents volunteering for many organizations in the area.

Bill Murison had a zest for life. He loved his family and friends, the outdoors, and he was fascinated by nature. He loved learning and educating people, loved a good conversation and a good glass of scotch. He enjoyed writing, reading, stamp collecting, walking, hiking, and classical music. He was a man of faith who was always quick with a smile and a kind word. The true joys of Bill’s life were Eve and their children; John, Graeme, Gavin, and Lisa. He was proud of their accomplishments and blessed by their care in his later years. They, in turn, were blessed by his love, wisdom, friendship, guidance, and the example he set as a constant source of joy, positivity, and humility.

Bill is survived by his loving wife Eve, sons John Murison, Graeme Murison (Lily) , Gavin Murison (Beth), and daughter Lisa Glasheen. Grandchildren Sam Murison, Colten Walters (Andrea), Casey Kacsmaryk (Kurtis), Kelly Goodell (Mike), Max Glasheen, Megan Donaldson (Justin), and Brenna Keegal (Denzil). Great-grandchildren Shelby, Nathan, and Sierra Walters, Tyler Glasheen, and Lacey, Avia,and Ronen Donaldson. Also, Bill’s sister Anne Russell of Australia. Bill was preceded in death by his son-in-law John Glasheen.

The family would like to thank Sequoia Springs and Hospice of Humboldt for their love and care. In lieu of flowers the family invites you to contribute to the HSU Foundation, Hospice of Humboldt or The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research.

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George Patterson Miller passed away in his home on Saturday, November 27 at 10:20 a.m. At his side were his wife, Sharon, and a couple of family members who were singing favorite hymns and reading the bible out loud. It was one day before he and Sharon’s 67th anniversary.

George was born on the Victorian house on ‘L’ street in Fortuna. He grew up as the youngest of seven on the family ranch in Holmes, where he thrived in a free-roaming and hard-working atmosphere. He prided himself on his aim with the slingshot and his ability to get vehicles unstuck from the river bar. He thought he would like to become a veterinarian.

George graduated from Fortuna High in 1954. While himself a student there, George had the responsibility of driving the school bus, delivering the students on the southern route. In those days the buses were equipped with governors on them to control their speed. After dropping off the last student, George was known to intentionally break the governor by over-revving the motor while on a down-hill run, thus enabling him to drive the speed he wanted to – at least until the problem was noted and was repaired.

George had a good friend who had been invited to a birthday party but alas he had no way of getting to it. He invited George to the party because he had a car. Even though George didn’t know the birthday girl, he bought a gift for her that he thought was useful. The young lady’s name was Sharon Caples and her boyfriend was pretty proud of the personal gift he had gotten for her – a pillowcase. Cheeks were glowing red when George’s gift was opened – a pair of underwear!

After graduating, George was working at the mill up Bull Creek when he noticed a very industrious young lady painstakingly washing the windows of her parents’ home – everyday, the same time he was off work. It was the girl from the party. They decided to marry but there were two problems. Sharon was just entering her senior year at South Fork High. George had to promise her father that she would finish high school. Secondly, George was too young to get a marriage license so they had to take his father with them to apply. The two were married on November 28, 1954.

Soon after their marriage, along with a group of several young men, George lined up at the recruiting station to serve his country. To his disgust, before his name was called, the office closed for lunch, telling the young men who were left to “come back later.” George never did.

March 24, 1956, their first child — Sandra — was born in the Scotia Hospital. Second child Stephen followed on April 19, 1958. He holds the title of being the last baby born in the Scotia Hospital. On August 25, 1961, their final baby was born – Christopher, in Redwood Memorial.

After trying his hand at a few jobs, George settled on being a faller of “the big trees” for gyppo loggers. He continued in this career for 28 years. On several occasions through these years, during the summer months, the family could be found camping near where George was working.

George and Sharon joined the Fortuna Seventh-Day Adventist around 1958. They have been faithful members since. The family was fully involved the church’s Pathfinder Club for young people.

George, with his many abilities, became the head deacon of the church. The purpose of this job is to keep up the facility and to be helpful to members with specific needs.

In the early 60s, the family settled on Bellview Avenue in Rio Dell. They stayed here for about 10 years before settling permanently on three acres in Fortuna. It was here that George thoroughly enjoyed having room to raise a few cows, sheep and bees. He planted numerous fruit trees and every year grew a big garden.

To keep his small family cared for and in private Christian school, and because he was a jack of all trades and a work-a-holic, George took on many extra jobs which included but weren’t limited to making ‘split stuff’ on the beaches, doing any type of home repairs for people, auto mechanics, rental manager, straightening pond bars and guard rails, to name a few. George had his own shops in which any number of projects could be found. Later in life, because his keen eye detected maintenance and improvement needs in the facility of the Fortuna Adventist Community Service Center, he was offered the maintenance job, which he filled for many years.

It was around 1980 that George did a 360-degree career change. He started working for a local dentist manufacturing dental implants and dental tools. His perfectionism and ingenuity shone in this profession, in which he continued for over 30 years. George was frequently called back to falling for friends and acquaintances and this he enjoyed greatly.

George is survived by his wife Sharon J. Miller, his children Sandra D. (and Mike) Riley, Stephen A. (and Tammi) Miller, and Christopher L. (and Deborah) Miller. And by his brother Gerald (and Glenda) Miller, six grandchildren and too many great grandchildren, nieces, and nephews to list.

A memorial will be held on Saturday, January 8, 2022 at 3:30 p.m. at the Fortuna Seventh-Day Adventist Church in Fortuna.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Fortuna Volunteer Fire Department, 320 S. Fortuna Blvd. because their lift assist team was called to the house on many occasions, or to the wonderful people at hospice with whom we were just getting acquainted.

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The obituary above was submitted on behalf of George Miller’s loved ones. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here.

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No one seems to want to talk about it, but exceptionally plugged-in social media watchers may have picked up a few rumors or clues that former First Lady, Senator, Secretary of State and Democratic nominee for the Presidency Hillary Rodham Clinton was in Humboldt County over the weekend.

And we can tell you: Those rumors are true! Hills did, in fact, grace our shores for a spell. In a photo that was briefly posted to Facebook before being taken down, Clinton could be seen posing with locals at Sue-meg Village, the reconstructed Yurok town at the newly rechristened Sue-Meg State Park.

The Outpost spoke to the person who took the photo, who said he had no idea that it had escaped into the wild. He said he was not in a position to speak about what Clinton was up to at Sue-Meg, but confirmed that she was there.

We reached out through official channels to both the Parks Service and the Yurok Tribe; the former had no comment, and the latter is apparently busy with other tasks.

Well! Apart from that, perhaps you’d like to know what Team Hillary ordered from the South G Kitchen, that food truck parked outside Redwood Curtain in Arcata?

As far as South G’s mention of a documentary, there: We can only say that Humboldt County’s Film Commissioner, Cassandra Roberts Hesseltine, says she had no idea such a filming was taking place.

So that’s it! Any other Hillary sightings, Humboldt?

McCavour

Environmental consultant Melanie McCavour could wind up losing her at-large seat on the Humboldt County Planning Commission tomorrow as the Board of Supervisors considers whether she has a conflict of interest after taking a job with the Bear River Band of the Rohnerville Rancheria.

McCavour, who was appointed to the Planning Commission almost three years ago, was recently hired as Bear River’s tribal historic preservation officer (THPO), according to the staff report. That could be a problem, the report says, because according to the county’s cannabis ordinance, all commercial grows must be set back at least 600 feet from tribal cultural resources, and it will now be McCavour’s job to evaluate and approve grow operations under those criteria.

That means she’d have to recuse herself from considering any and all projects for which she’d also be serving as the Rancheria’s THPO. 

Frequent recusals could make it hard for the Planning Commission to reach a quorum, the staff report says. “Therefore, considering removing Ms. McCavour and replacing the At-Large position would benefit both the applicants and the Planning Commission.”

It’s not clear who brought this potential conflict to the county’s attention. The staff report uses the passive voice, saying Clerk of the Board Kathy Hayes “has been notified of a potential conflict.” By whom, McCavour herself? Someone who doesn’t like how McCavour votes? 

We sent McCavour an email and left a couple voicemails on Monday but have yet to hear back.

The Planning Commission has seven members, five of whom are appointed by individual supervisors to represent their respective districts while the other two are appointed to serve “at large,” meaning they represent the entire county and must be approved by a majority of the Board of Supervisors. 

McCavour has been a staunch environmental advocate on the commission. She voted to deny a permit to rebuild a fallen billboard south of Eureka last year, and in 2019 she was in the majority that voted to deny the controversial Humboldt Wind Energy Project atop Bear River Ridge and Monument Ridge south of Scotia. She argued that it was not worth trading tribal cultural resources for a project that would make only “a tiny, tiny dent” in accommodating the energy needs of primarily Southern California residents.

The county staff report says removing McCavour and appointing someone else to her position “would benefit both the applicants and the Planning Commission.”

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Paz Dominguez

What else is on the docket for Tuesday? Well, if you’ve been following the seemingly endless drama surrounding Auditor-Controller Karen Paz Dominguez, it won’t surprise you to learn that she appears in several agenda items.

First, Paz Dominguez is being asked to deliver this month’s “written and verbal update” on county payroll. The payroll function was recently moved back to her office from the Human Resources Department, and the transition has not gone smoothly.

At a bruising Nov. 9 Board of Supervisors meeting, at which department heads, fiscal staff and supervisors laid into the A-C for being difficult to reach, vindictive and woefully behind in her duties, the supervisors unanimously voted to require monthly payroll updates from her. The board also asked Paz Dominguez to develop “metrics and comparables” so the board can see whether or not her office’s duties are getting accomplished.

She has yet to produce such a report or develop those metrics, according to a staff report. “As of Dec. 8, 2021,” it says, “the AC report has not been complete and there has been no communication to the [Board of Supervisors] on the status of these directed reports.”

Reached for comment via email, Paz Dominguez said the board does not have any authority to direct the actions of other elected officials — a stance she has taken previously and that the board disputes. She went on to say that if the board gives her additional tasks to perform then it will need to provide her office with additional resources, per California Government Code Section 26884. 

“They can ‘direct’ as many new tasks as they want but if they don’t provide the resources necessary to complete those tasks, then they should not be surprised when the tasks are not completed,” Paz Dominguez said in her email. “Despite the poor timing and notice of this imposed presentation, I have agreed to allot 15-20 minutes at 1pm … to be at the BOS meeting. Were it not scheduled during our critical payroll processing day, I would have allotted more time.”

She also disputes the allegation that she has failed to produce the requested reporting, noting that she provided “a detailed zoom presentation regarding payroll and made myself available for the entire 4+ hours of that agenda item,” apparently referring to the Nov. 9 meeting.

Lastly, Paz Dominguez accused the Board of Supervisors of allowing false statements about her office to go uncorrected during public meetings. 

“It is my expectation that this BOS will soon begin retracting the misstatements it has allowed be made into the public record about the A-C Office,” she wrote.

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There’s one other item on Tuesday’s agenda that points the finger at Paz Dominguez, and it concerns First 5 Humboldt, the county’s child development organization. As reported early last month, First 5 Executive Director Mary Ann Hansen said her organization’s annual audit was held up by overdue reporting from the Auditor-Controller’s Office.

That situation was resolved shortly thereafter, but according to a staff report, First 5’s independent auditor wound up finding that the Auditor-Controller’s Office failed to live up to its accounting and oversight responsibilities under its Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the county.

Specifically, the auditor concluded that “the formal financial closing process was not followed as it has been followed in previous years,” which required her to correct financial statements for receivables and accrued liabilities and make other changes “in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.”

The staff report says this audit finding could have dire consequences. 

“The current finding is egregious and has the potential to impact the Commission’s ability to secure grants to provide needed services to Humboldt’s children and families and accomplish its voter-approved mandate,” it says.

Asked about this via email on Monday, Paz Dominguez said that given her workload she would not be able to provide a detailed response by my deadline but should be able to before tomorrow’s meeting. We’ll update this post with that response when it comes in.

PREVIOUSLY: EUREKA HOMICIDE: EPD Investigating Suspicious Transient Death That Occurred Behind Eureka Church of the Nazarene

# # #

Eureka Police Department release:

On December 4, 2017, 56-year-old Charles “Chuckie” Levaugh was found deceased in an alley near the 2000 block of E Street in Eureka. The investigation revealed that Levaugh was sleeping when he was stabbed to death by an unknown suspect.

Four years later and after numerous developments in the case, the Humboldt County District Attorney’s Office has formally charged 23-year-old Wesley Lee Starritt for the murder of Levaugh. Starritt has been in custody since May 2020 on unrelated charges of murder, attempted murder, and assault with a deadly weapon.

Acting Chief Stephens said, “The cases we have reported on over the last week are great examples of the tenacity and dedication our detectives and evidence technicians have in seeking justice for victims and their families. I want to personally thank them for their incredible work on these cases. I also want to thank the Humboldt County District Attorney’s Office for their continued support, guidance, and commitment to holding the offenders accountable for these heinous acts of violence.”

PREVIOUS POSTS ON STARRITT’S OTHER CASE:

• Eureka Police Arrest ‘Person of Interest’ in Last Week’s Campton Road Homicide Investigation
• Criminal Proceedings Against Campton Road Murder Suspect Delayed After Attorney Questions His Mental Competence
• (VIDEO) Eureka Police Department Holds Press Conference on Campton Road Murder Investigtion
• Two Jail Staff Members Assaulted Over the Weekend, Says Sheriff’s Office; Overall Inmate Attacks on Jail Personnel Way Up This Year
• Suspect in Eureka Murder, Two Other Recent Stabbings Ruled Mentally Incompetent to Stand Trial
• Eureka Murder Suspect’s Mental Competance Will Be Re-evaluated

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Starting Wednesday, Californians will once again be required to wear masks indoors in public places regardless of vaccination status, state health officials announced today.

The renewed masking requirement follows a 47% increase in COVID-19 case rates since the Thanksgiving holiday and the arrival of new variant, said Dr. Mark Ghaly, the state’s health secretary.

The mask mandate will run through Jan. 15 and is specific to public settings, not private gatherings. Nevertheless, health officials recommend people get tested ahead of holiday gatherings and consider better ventilation by opening windows or convening outdoors when possible.

The mandate will mainly affect about 50% of the state population that lives in counties that currently don’t have their own mask mandate, Ghaly said. Los Angeles and several Bay Area counties already have mask mandates for public settings in place.

Along with renewed mask rules, the state will also require that attendees at mega events — those of 1,000 people or more — who are unvaccinated show proof of a negative COVID-19 test taken within one day, if an antigen test, or two days for PCR tests. The state is also recommending that travelers get tested before and after trips.

The first statewide mandate was imposed in 2020 and lifted last June.

After the state’s June 15 reopening, vaccinated people were allowed to return to grocery stores, retail and other public settings without a mask — at least under state rules. People who were not vaccinated still had to adhere to indoor masking. Telling the difference, however, was tricky: Ghaly acknowledged today that throughout the pandemic enforcement of these rules has been a challenge.

Ghaly said state officials are not considering any further restrictions or capacity limits on businesses at this time. “Is this the first step along the course we’re familiar with…including closures? Absolutely not.”

That’s because, he said, despite concerns of the new Omicron variant and rising case rates, the state has effective tools at hand: vaccines and masks.

To date, 74,685 Californians have died from COVID-19.

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CALmatters.org is a nonprofit, nonpartisan media venture explaining California policies and politics.