2006 Press Releases

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 5, 2006

CONTACT: Dannie Tillman, Director of Communications & Coalitions
PHONE:  (323) 217-8875  EMAIL:  media@eqca.org

ASSEMBLYMEMBER LAIRD INTRODUCES CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 2007

EQCA-Sponsored Legislation Strengthens Protections for LGBT Community, Remedies Dozens of Nondiscrimination Deficiencies in State Law

Sacramento - On December 4, Assemblymember John Laird, D-Santa Cruz, introduced the Civil Rights Act of 2007, sponsored by Equality California (EQCA). The new legislation expands nondiscrimination protections for all Californians, including the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community.

AB 14 strengthens and clarifies 51 provisions in state law by making them consistent with the strongest standards of nondiscrimination protection, which prohibit discrimination based on: race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, ethnic group identification, age, disability, medical condition, marital status, sex (including gender identity) and sexual orientation.

The new bill increases nondiscrimination protections in a variety of situations, such as jury service, the issuance of credit cards, participation in the Cal Grant program, voter registration programs, delivery of emergency services, awarding of public contracts, food stamp eligibility and the use of public beaches.

"California continues to lead the country in protecting LGBT people from discrimination," said EQCA Executive Director Geoff Kors. "This legislation ensures that California has the most comprehensive nondiscrimination policies in law."

The Civil Rights Act of 2007 ensures that 51 nondiscrimination provisions are consistent with California's Unruh Civil Rights Act and a government code provision that applies to state-funded programs and activities. Because the other provisions do not include all of the protected classes mentioned above, there is an existing deficiency in protection for Californians, in addition to confusion for those who implement and comply with these laws.

"Throughout California law there remain significant gaps in civil rights protections for Californians, leaving people vulnerable to discrimination in a wide variety of situations," said Assemblymember Laird. "AB 14 strengthens dozens of codes so they are indexed to the strongest level of protection in state law."

This is the fourth in a series of nondiscrimination bills authored by Assemblymember Laird that EQCA has sponsored. In 2004, EQCA sponsored AB 2900, which amended more than 30 labor and employment-related nondiscrimination provisions. In 2005, EQCA sponsored AB 1400, which prohibits discrimination by business establishments regardless of a person's sexual orientation, gender identity or marital status, and AB 2800, which amended 17 housing-related nondiscrimination provisions. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed all three bills into law.

"Equality California works to ensure that all Californians are treated equally under the law in all aspects of their lives," Kors said. "AB 14 reinforces our efforts in the state Legislature and in communities across the state, providing essential protections regardless of a person's religion, age, race or sexual orientation."

The new bill is expected to be heard in Assembly policy committees in February.

Founded in 1998, Equality California is a nonprofit, nonpartisan, grassroots-based, statewide advocacy organization whose mission is to achieve equality and civil rights of all lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) Californians. Please visit our website at www.eqca.org.

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