GOVERNOR VETOES LBGT FAIR POLITICAL CAMPAIGN BILL

EQUALITY CALIFORNIA

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
SEPTEMBER 7, 2005

Contact: Eddie Gutiérrez, Director of Communications
Phone: (323) 217-8875 Email: eddie [at] eqca.org

GOVERNOR VETOES LBGT FAIR POLITICAL CAMPAIGN BILL

Sacramento, CA - With only vague comments, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger vetoed AB
866, authored by Assembly Speaker pro Tem Leland Yee (D-San Francisco/Daly City) and
sponsored by Equality California, which was designed to prevent discrimination
against Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) individuals in political
campaigns. This was the first of many bills Equality California sponsored this year
to make it to the Governor's desk.

"We are extremely disappointed by Governor Schwarzenegger's veto of legislation that
would have added LGBT people to the list of groups covered by the Fair Political
Practice Act's Voluntary Pledge," said Geoffrey Kors, Executive Director of Equality
California. "Regardless of what he thinks about the enforceability of the Voluntary
Pledge, it is ludicrous to exclude one group of people from the rights and
protections granted to others. The exclusion of LGBT citizens in this case is just
simply an unacceptable form of discrimination."

Currently, existing law establishes a Code of Fair Campaign Practices to which a
candidate may voluntarily subscribe and provides a pledge by which the candidate
declares that he or she will not use or permit any appeal to negative prejudice
based on race, sex, religion, national origin, physical health status, or age. This
Code of Fair Campaign Practices and a copy of the Elections Code provisions are
required to be provided to candidates by the Registrar of Voters at the time of a
declaration of candidacy, nomination papers, or any other paper evidencing an
intention to be a candidate for public office are issued.

"Quite frankly, I am outraged that the Governor vetoed a bill that protects gay and
lesbian candidates from facing discrimination and hate during a campaign," said
Speaker pro Tem Yee. "It is unconscionable that the Governor of California would
send a message that it is ok to foster campaigns that create fear and intimidation
upon the LGBT community."

The legislation would have prohibited the use of any negative appeal based on
prejudice against LGBT people by candidates or campaign committees who sign the
voluntary pledge provided for in the Code of Fair Campaign Practices.

To read a .pdf version of the Governer's note to the Assembly, go to:
http://www.eqca.org/atf/cf/{687DF34F-6480-4BCD-9C2B-1F33FD8E1294}/AB_866_VETO%20(2).PDF.

Founded in 1998, Equality California is a nonprofit, nonpartisan, grassroots-based,
statewide advocacy organization whose mission is to ensure the dignity, safety,
equality and civil rights of all lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT)
Californians. Equality California is one of the largest and fastest growing
statewide LGBT organizations in the country. We can be contacted through our website
at http://www.eqca.org.

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