From: "Ellen McCormick" Subject: AB 53 ACTION ALERT / SB 911 PRESS RELEASE Date: Wed, 5 Mar 1997 15:22:12 -0800 March 4, 1997 LIFE: California's Lesbian/Gay and AIDS Lobby Contacts: Ellen McCormick, Legislative Advocate Laurie McBride, Executive Director (916) 444-0424 ACTION ALERT: AB 53 AB 53 by Assembly Member Murray (D-Los Angeles) will be heard in the Assembly Judiciary Committee on Wednesday, March 19, 1997. THE BILL: AB 53 would prohibit discrimination on the basis of marital status in state adoptions. HISTORY: Current law is silent on "the best interest of the child" with regard to marital status. This silence is appropriate as marriage is not necessarily an indicator of parental fitness. Recently however, the Wilson Administration put forward proposed changes to the state's adoption regulations. These regulations, though not yet adopted, will state that an adoption by an unmarried couple is not in the best interest of the child. If accepted, this regulation change will result in lengthy litigation for unmarried couples and a settling of those adoption cases in courts across the state. Thus, the social worker's purpose, to investigate possible adoptions, make recommendations and placements, is nullified. The social worker would be required to recommend against unmarried couples attempting to adopt based on arbitrary rationale. AB 53 would preempt this misdirected regulation change before it can take effect. AB 53 would provide that unmarried couples may adopt, and that a social worker may not advocate that an adoption by an unmarried couple is against the best interest of the child based solely on the couple's marital status. AB 53 will allow unmarried, loving, fit parents: heterosexual, gay and lesbian, to adopt children. AB 53 recognizes that adoptions should be based on the fitness of the parent, as judged by a social worker, not the parent's marital status. It is clear that acceptance of the Wilson Administration's proposed regulation change would prevent, unilaterally, fit gay and lesbian parents from adopting without going to court. Without AB 53, social workers would be required to recommend against adoption if the parents are unmarried even if it is contrary to the best interests of the child. ACTION: Please send letters urging passage of AB 53 to the Chair of the Assembly Judiciary Committee: The Honorable Martha Escutia Chair, Assembly Committee on Judiciary California State Assembly State Capitol, Room 3146 Sacramento, CA 95814 Also please send letters to your Assembly Member and Senator in support of AB 53. TIMELINE: March 19: AB 53 Hearing in Assembly Judiciary Committee March / April / May: AB 53 to full Assembly Floor July: AB 53 to Senate Judiciary Committee (Chair: Senator John Burton) July / August: AB 53 to full Senate floor September: AB 53 to Governor Please call LIFE Lobby for further information about this, or any other lesbian/gay or HIV-related legislation. (916) 444-0424 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------- February 26, 1997 For Immediate Release Contacts: Ellen McCormick, Legislative Advocate Laurie McBride, Executive Director (916) 444-0424 RIGHT WING INTRODUCES 1997 ANTI-GAY MARRIAGE MANIFESTO IN CALIFORNIA The long wait is over. Today, Senator Pete Knight (R-Palmdale) and Assembly Member Bob Margett (R-Arcadia) introduced SB 911 and AB 800 (respectively): the "California Defense of Marriage Act." SB 911 and AB 800 are two identical measures which seek to prohibit California from recognizing same gender marriages - should they ever be legalized - from other states. The "California Defense of Marriage Act" goes much farther than prohibiting recognition of same gender marriages, it adds into California law "compelling interests (that) support the statutory recognition of marriage only between one man and one woman." Among such interests are: "Social order... encouraged by fostering procreation and promoting the optimal development of children within a marital setting..." "The institution of marriage... fortified and protected rather than being further undermined and weakened by fundamentally redefining the institution... to apply to any consenting... persons regardless of gender or number." "The state's treasury... protected from the financial burden of providing millions of dollars for spousal health care, retirement, and other... benefits associated with state recognition of marriages other than between one man and one woman." The California Defense of Marriage Act further states that "A same sex relationship shall not be entitled to the benefits of marriage under the laws of this state." This section could apply to benefits currently received in certain cities and counties by "domestic partners." "These bills will not get out of their first committees," said Laurie McBride, Executive Director of LIFE: California's Lesbian/Gay and AIDS Lobby, "I'm sure that is why they are so inflammatory - Knight knows he can't get anywhere so he wrote the most offensive bill, he's really letting his true colors show. These measures are about hate, not good public policy." Both measures will go next to the Senate Committee on Judiciary and the Assembly Committee on Judiciary, respectively. Hearings are likely to be held in April or early May. LIFE Lobby encourages all members of the lesbian, gay, and bisexual community and its allies to write to the Judiciary committees and register opposition to these bills. For copies of AB 800 or SB 911, please call the Legislative Bill Room at (916) 445-2323 or visit the California home page at . Letters regarding AB 800 (Margett) should be addressed to: The Honorable Martha Escutia Chair, Assembly Judiciary Cmte. State Capitol, Room 3132 Sacramento, CA 95814 Letters regarding SB 911 (Knight) should be addressed to: The Honorable John Burton Chair, Senate Judiciary Cmte. State Capitol, Room 2205 Sacramento, CA 95814 Please send a copy of your letter to LIFE Lobby at the address below. ### 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. LIFE: California's Lesbian/Gay and AIDS Lobby 926 J Street, Suite 522 Sacramento, CA 95814 (916) 444-0424, fax (916) 444-3059