CA Legislature Strengthens Protections For LGBT People

Some good news, for a change! On Tuesday the California Legislature passed a bill to amend the predominant civil rights statute in the state, the Unruh Civil Rights Act, to include "sexual orientation, gender identity and marital status" along with the current provisions which prohibit discrimination based on sex, race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, disability or medical condition in public accomodations. The bill, The Civil Rights Act of 2005 (AB 1400) by Assemblymember John Laird (D-Santa Cruz) passed the Assembly 49-29 and the Senate 22-15 and proceeds to unpopular Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger to sign, veto or allow to become law without his signature before September 10.

With anti-discrimination having been shepherded through the legislature, the state's 6-member LGBT Caucus turns its attention to reviving the Religious Freedom and Civil Marriage Protection Act (AB 849, formerly AB 19) by Assemblymember Mark Leno (D-San Francisco).