From: "Ellen McCormick" Subject: CA: AB 101 passes Education Committee Date: Wed, 9 Apr 1997 20:08:09 -0700 April 9, 1997 For Immediate Release Contacts: Ellen McCormick, Legislative Advocate (916) 444-0424 Sam Catalano, Legislative Assistant Laurie McBride, Executive Director LIFE: California's Lesbian/Gay and AIDS Lobby AB 101 -- THE DIGNITY FOR ALL STUDENTS ACT PASSES THE ASSEMBLY EDUCATION COMMITTEE: 11 - 8 After a two and half hour debate AB 101, (by Assembly Member Sheila Kuehl) the measure to end discrimination based on sexual orientation in California's public schools, was passed by the Assembly Education Committee. Speaking for the bill were numerous gay and lesbian youth; Stephanie Reed, a Petaluma mother who's son took his own life because of severe harassment and abuse from his classmates at school for being gay; many educators; and Education lobbying organizations. As well, in a press conference earlier that day Jamie Nabozny, the litigant in the landmark federal court ruling on gay students, spoke to the press about his experience being abused and harassed in a public school. During the hearing and the morning press conference, the proponents of the bill cited numerous cases of verbal and physical gay-bashing in California's public schools. Several youth spoke of incidents that would be remedied by AB 101. Opponents of AB 101 again asserted that the bill forces homosexuality on students in schools and misconstrued the bill to apply to religious private schools. "This bill is about stopping discrimination based on sexual orientation in public schools - nothing more," said Laurie McBride, LIFE Lobby Executive Director, "the radical right can try to bend this bill into whatever perception they want, but in the end it's still just about stopping discrimination, the Members of the [Assembly] committee understand this." AB 101 will next be heard by the Assembly Appropriations Committee. LIFE Lobby urges individuals and organizations to send letters to the author of the bill, Assembly Member Sheila Kuehl, and to send a copy ("cc") to the Chair of the Appropriations Committee (Assembly Member Carole Migden), to LIFE Lobby and to their own Assembly Member and Senator. To write to an Assembly Member or Senator you may use the following address: State Capitol, Sacramento, CA 95814. ### LIFE: California's Lesbian/Gay and AIDS Lobby has been lobbying on behalf of California's lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and HIV-affected communities since 1986. LIFE is the oldest and largest institution representing these communities in California's State Capitol and is proud to celebrate a decade of service. VOTE COUNT: ASSEMBLY EDUCATION COMMITTEE Mazzoni (Chair) Yes Pacheco (Vice Chair) No Alquist Yes Bowen Yes Bowler No Campbell Abstention Davis Yes Goldsmith No Honda Yes House No Leach No Lempert Yes Leonard No Morrow No Scott Yes Strom-Martin Yes Sweeney Yes Villaraigosa Yes Washington No Wayne Yes Wildman Abstention LIFE: California's Lesbian/Gay and AIDS Lobby 926 J Street, Suite 522 Sacramento, CA 95814 (916) 444-0424