From: Laurie McBride Date: Thu, 17 Jul 1997 15:23:23 July 16, 1997 For Immediate Release Contact: Ellen McCormick Legislative Advocate LIFE: California's Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and HIV/AIDS Lobby (916) 444-0424 GAY/LESBIAN/BISEXUAL CIVIL RIGHTS LEGISLATION PASSES STATE SENATE COMMITTEE Sacramento - AB 257, the measure to prohibit sexual orientation discrimination in housing and in the workplace, passed the Senate Judiciary Committee last night by a vote of 6 - 3. This measure, authored by Assembly Member Antonio Villaraigosa (D-Los Angeles), would add "sexual orientation" as a protected class under California's Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA). Currently, gay, lesbian and bisexual people are protected from discrimination in the workplace under California's Labor Code and in housing through case law. "This bill is necessary because people simply aren't aware of the protections available to them," said Laurie McBride, Executive Director of LIFE Lobby, "we also have found that the Department of Labor has not been responding to complaints of sexual orientation discrimination - this protection must appear in FEHA because that department understands complaints of discrimination." The Department of Fair Employment and Housing is already charged with investigating and enforcing workplace and housing discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, marital status, national origin, ancestry, and disability. Sexual orientation discrimination is the only type of discrimination that the Department of Labor is charged with enforcing. AB 257 would move this existing protection from the Labor Code to the more appropriate FEHA. With regard to housing, sexual orientation discrimination is currently prohibited through case law and the Department of Fair Employment and Housing investigates and enforces complaints. AB 257 would codify this current practice. AB 257 passed the Senate Judiciary Committee by a 6 - 3 vote, with Senators Burton (D-San Francisco), Calderon (D-Whittier), Lee (D-Oakland), Lockyer (D-Hayward), O'Connell (D-Carpinteria) and Sher (D-Palo Alto) voting for the bill; and Senators Haynes (R-Riverside), Leslie (R-Roseville) and Wright (R-simi Valley) voting against. ### This message has been brought to you by LIFE: California's Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and HIV/AIDS Lobby. LIFE 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 over a decade of service. If you would like further information about LIFE activities, events or membership please contact our office at: LIFE: California's Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and HIV/AIDS Lobby 926 J Street, Suite 522 Sacramento, CA 95814 (916) 444-0424 fax (916) 444-3059 Please thank the Senators who voted for AB 257! Write to them at: ; ; ; ; Senator John Burton - no e-mail address; and Senator Barbara Lee - no e-mail address.