CALIF. GAY RIGHTS GROUP'S LEGISLATION TAKES CENTER STAGE

CALIF. GAY RIGHTS GROUP'S LEGISLATION TAKES CENTER STAGE

OIA Newswire

SACRAMENTO, Calif. - Equality California's sponsored legislation will reach a pivotal moment next week when the Legislature returns from summer recess August 15. The Senate Appropriations Committee will likely hear Assembly Bill 849, the Religious Freedom and Civil Marriage Protection Act, authored by Assemblymember Mark Leno (D-San Francisco), Assembly Speaker Fabian Núñez (D-Los Angeles), and supported by more than 30 other co-authors.

If passed, the marriage equality bill moves to the full Senate and Assembly for votes within the next few weeks.

The full Senate will also be voting on Assembly Bill 866, authored by Speaker pro Tem Leland Yee (D-San Francisco/Daly City) and sponsored by Equality California. This legislation would hope to prevent discrimination against LGBT people in political campaigns by adding sexual orientation and gender to the categories already covered in the existing Code of Fair Campaign Practices Pledge. Candidates and/or campaign committees who choose to sign the voluntary pledge are prohibited from using any negative appeal based on prejudice against people who fall within the included categories during the campaign.

In April 2005, AB 866 passed the Assembly with a 47-33 bipartisan vote. If passed, AB 866 will be one of the first LGBT civil rights bills to be sent to the governor's desk for his consideration this year.

A full Senate vote is also expected for discrimination-free public accommodations legislation by Assemblymember John Laird (D-Santa Cruz). Assembly Bill 1400 would amend the Unruh Civil Rights Act and related provisions to clarify that discrimination in public accommodations based on sexual orientation, gender identity or marital status is illegal. If passed, the bill will head back to the Assembly where it was previously passed for concurrence with amendments passed by the Senate. It will then head to governor's desk for his consideration.

Senate Joint Resolution 11, authored by Senator Christine Kehoe (D-San Diego), which calls on Congress and the president to end the military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy by enacting House Resolution 1059, the Military Readiness Enhancement Act, authored by Representative Marty Meehan (D- Massachusetts), is also expecting a full Senate vote this week. If passed, this resolution will head to a state Assembly floor vote before becoming official.

"No one should be discriminated by any government or business based on their sexual orientation and gender identity," said executive director Geoffrey Kors of Equality California. Kors said many legislators from all political camps have come full circle to understand that discrimination is just plain wrong.

"We know legislators will do the right thing these next few weeks to be on the side of equality, no more, no less." [8/9/05]