California state Sen. Aisha Wahab has introduced a bill to outlaw caste discrimination in the state, a proposal that has received both support and backlash. If the bill passes, California would become the first state to explicitly outlaw caste-based discrimination. Critics argue that such a ban stigmatizes the South Asian and Hindu communities and that caste is not a protected category like race or gender. The bill has faced a fractious legislative process, with fellow progressive Democrats suggesting amendments that ultimately watered down the legislation. The issue of caste discrimination has gained attention in Silicon Valley, where a lawsuit accusing Cisco of caste-based discrimination was filed last year.
https://www.politico.com/news/2023/09/04/ban-caste-discrimination-california-bill-00113817