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GOVERNOR OF CALIFORNIA
SIGNS GAY-POSITIVE
BILLS INTO LAW
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In early 1999-OCT, Governor Gray Davis signed into law three
bills. He vetoed one as redundant and is currently reviewing a final bill.
The bills that were signed into law are:
 | AB 26. This creates domestic partnerships for homosexual couples. It also grants benefits to partners of homosexual state
employees which are equal to those received by heterosexual employees. |
| AB 537. This adds the topic of sexual orientation to the state
education code. California public school children will now be taught about
various sexual orientations. |
| AB 1001. This modifies the Fair Employment & Housing Act to
prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation
in housing and employment. Everyone will be covered - both heterosexuals
and homosexuals. Focus on the Family's CitizenLink states that this
"will, for the first time in the nation's history recognize a
behavior as a civil right." 1 (Focus seems
to have overlooked the many clauses in state constitutions, and countless
laws which guarantee freedom of worship, another "behavior" that
has been recognized as a civil right for centuries.) |
Governor Davis vetoed bill SB 75. It closely paralleled AB 26, and was thus
redundant.
Conservative Christian organizations were not pleased with these new laws, and
their granting of equal protection and treatment to gays and straights alike:
| Randy Thomasson, spokesperson for the Capitol Resource Institute in
Sacramento commented. "Governor Davis has shown himself to be a
political prostitute. He's selling out the family. This man has given up his
moral authority if he ever had any to begin with." |
| Brad Dacus, spokesperson for the Pacific Justice Institute is
planning to file two lawsuits in federal court to overturn these laws. He
commented: "Without question these bills send a signal saying if you
are a 'for-profit' business or if you are an independent religious based
school or college in the State of California, there's no room for you in
Golden State. We think it's unconstitutional and we are willing to fight to
prove it." |
The governor is still considering whether to sign into law bill AB 1670. It
would formally add "sexual orientation" as an additional criteria in
California's Civil Rights Code.
Reference
- Family News in Focus news briefs for 1999-OCT-5 at: http://www.family.org/fmedia/infosheets/A0007634.html
Created 1999-OCT-5
Author: B.A. Robinson
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