FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
AUGUST 29, 2005
Contact: Eddie Gutiérrez, EQCA Director of Communications
Phone: (323) 217-8875
Email: eddie@eqca.org
Contact: Bill Maxfield, Assemblymember Laird's Director of Communications
Phone: (831) 596-0910
Email: bill.maxfield@asm.ca.gov
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE PASSES BILL TO ENHANCE DISCRIMINATION-FREE BUSINESS PROTECTIONS FOR LGBT COMMUNITY
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Sacramento, CA – Today, the California Legislature passed its second pro-LGBT civil rights bill of the year, which will now head to the Governor’s desk for his signature. This bill strengthens current law to protect the lesbian, gay bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community against discriminatory business practices. The Assembly voted overwhelmingly 49-29 to pass Assembly Bill (AB) 1400, the Civil Rights Act of 2005, authored by Assemblymember John Laird (D-Santa Cruz) and sponsored by Equality California. AB 1400 builds upon the Unruh Civil Rights Act (Unruh Act) and related provisions to clarify and reinforce that all businesses that provide services, goods, or accommodations to the public cannot discriminate based on sexual orientation, gender identity or marital status. Governor Schwarzenegger has 12 days to sign the bill into law, once it reaches his desk.
"The California Legislature made the right decision to make significant improvements to a significant civil rights law, the Unruh Act, making clear for businesses and customers that discrimination in any form is unacceptable," said Assemblymember John Laird. "With Governor Schwarzenegger’s signature, we will strengthen for all Californians the Unruh Act—the centerpiece of non-discrimination protections in public accommodations.”
“The California legislature has once again demonstrated its commitment to true equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Californians,” said Executive Director Geoffrey Kors of Equality California. “By adding sexual orientation, gender identity and marital status, California will continue to be at the forefront of ensuring equality for all.”
Businesses subject to the Unruh Act include, but are not limited to, shopping centers, mobile home parks, bars and restaurants, schools, medical and dental offices, hotels and motels, and condominium homeowners’ associations. The Unruh Act explicitly prohibits discrimination based on sex, race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, disability or medical condition. Courts have held that the categories listed in the law are merely examples and that the Unruh Act should be interpreted broadly to prohibit arbitrary discrimination, including discrimination based on personal characteristics, geographical origin, physical attributes, and individual beliefs.
ASSEMBLY VOTE COUNT
49 AYES: Arambula, Baca, Bass, Berg, Bermudez, Calderon, Canciamilla, Chan, Chavez, Chu, Cohn, Coto, De La Torre, Dymally, Evans, Frommer, Goldberg, Hancock, Jerome Horton, Jones, Karnette, Klehs, Koretz, Laird, Leno, Levine, Lieber, Liu, Matthews, Montanez, Mountjoy, Mullin, Nation, Nava, Negrete McLeod, Oropeza, Parra, Pavley, Ridley-Thomas, Ruskin, Saldana, Salinas, Torrico, Umberg, Vargas, Wolk, Yee, Nunez
29 ANOES: Aghazarian, Benoit, Blakeslee, Bogh, Cogdill, Daucher, DeVore, Harman, Haynes, Shirley Horton, Houston, Huff, Keene, La Malfa, La Suer, Leslie, Maze, McCarthy, Nakanishi, Niello, Plescia, Richman, Sharon Runner, Spitzer, Strickland, Tran, Villines, Walters, Wyland
3 ABSENT, ABSTAINING, OR NOT VOTING: Emmerson, Garcia, Vacancy
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 www.eqca.org.
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