From: "Ellen McCormick" Subject: CA: Legislative Update and LIFE Lobby Action Alert, 06/04/97 Date: Wed, 4 Jun 1997 11:32:11 -0700 June 4, 1997 For Immediate Release Contact: Ellen McCormick, Legislative Advocate LIFE: California's Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and HIV/AIDS Lobby CALIFORNIA LEGISLATIVE UPDATE: The Good News and the Bad News The good news first. AB 1059, Assembly Member Carole Migden's measure to require health maintenance organizations, as well as other health coverage providers, to offer domestic partner health coverage as an option to small employers - passed the Assembly floor with bipartisan support and is moving to the State Senate. The bad news. AB 101, Assembly Member Sheila Kuehl's measure to prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation in California's public schools - failed on the Assembly floor after an hour of debate. The debate was both empowering and offensive. Assembly Member Peter Frusetta (R-Tres Pinos) peppered the debate with his 'expert testimony' on his experience with homosexuality - that of watching hormonally imbalance heifers on his farm that behaved "as bulls" toward other heifers. All in all, he concluded, it was "unnatural." Empowering testimony came only from Democratic members of the Assembly. Such members as Jack Scott (D-Altadena), Rod Wright (D-South Central Los Angeles), Fred Keeley (D-Boulder Creek), Carole Migden (D-San Francisco), Kevin Murray (D-Los Angeles), Kerry Mazzoni (D-Novato), Diane Martinez (D-Monterey Park), Mike Honda (D-San Jose), Kevin Shelley (D-San Francisco) and Don Perata (D-Alameda) spoke eloquently and compassionately on behalf of gay and lesbian youth. AB 257, Assembly Member Antonio Villaraigosa's measure to add "sexual orientation" to California's Fair Employment and Housing Act - is still currently pending on the Assembly floor. Although it passed by the skin of it's teeth yesterday - the Republican caucus has asked the House to reconsider this vote. Yesterday's passage is thanks to a last minute switch by Assembly Member Mike Machado (D-Linden) and NO THANKS to Assembly Member Carl Washington (D-Paramount) who voted for the bill in the Assembly Labor Committee, but decided that he could not vote for the EXACT same bill on the Assembly floor. Still to be heard: AB 492, Assembly Member Fred Keeley's measure to expand the filing time for individuals filing grievances with the Labor Commissioner for workplace discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation - is pending today on the Assembly floor. AB 53, Assembly Member Kevin Murray's measure to allow unmarried couples to adopt, and AB 54 (also by Murray) a measure to provide a statewide domestic partner registry, are both pending on the Assembly floor. Last, Assembly Member George House will attempt to remove his failed bill, AB 1490, from the Assembly Education Committee for a vote by the full Assembly floor. AB 1490 would prohibit "the promotion or advocacy or homosexuality" by California's public schools. Currently, no schools in California engage in this type of activity. However, Assembly Member House's staff has stated that programs that teach tolerance and respect for diversity should not be supported by the state. Apparently, shutting down such programs is the purpose of the bill. ### Action items: LIFE Lobby urges all interested individuals and organizations to call or fax their Assembly Members immediately and urge them to: VOTE "YES" ON AB 257. VOTE "YES" ON AB 492. VOTE "YES" ON AB 53. VOTE "YES ON AB 54. VOTE "NO" ON WITHDRAWING AB 1490 FROM THE ASSEMBLY EDUCATION COMMITTEE. Swing Votes: Mike Machado (D-Linden), Dennis Cardoza (D-Merced), Sally Havice (D-Cerritos), Carl Washington (D-Paramount), Jim Cunneen (R-Cupertino), Steve Kuykendall (R-Long Beach), Brooks Firestone (R-Los Olivos), and Marilyn Brewer (R-Newport Beach). For fax and phone numbers of Assembly Members please consult your telephone directory or contact LIFE Lobby at (916) 444-0424.