From: "Ellen McCormick" Subject: CA: SB 911 and SB 1301 - Dead Date: Tue, 22 Apr 1997 19:13:25 -0700 April 22, 1997 For Immediate Release Contacts: Laurie McBride, Executive Director Ellen McCormick, Legislative Advocate Sam Catalano, Legislative Assistant LIFE: California's Lesbian/Gay and AIDS Lobby (916) 444-0424 LIFE LOBBY DEFEATS ANTI-GAY MARRIAGE BILL AND ANTI-BATH HOUSE IN STATE SENATE COMMITTEE Today, the lobbyists for LIFE: California's Lesbian/Gay and AIDS Lobby and a coalition of activists from around the state convened at the Capitol to defeat two major bills which would cause great harm to the gay and lesbian community. Each bill was met with heated debate: SB 911, Senator Knight's (R - Palmdale) measure to prohibit California from recognizing same gender marriages from other states was defeated after the Senate Judiciary Committee added domestic partner provisions to the bill. The final vote on the bill was 2 - 2. SB 1301, Senator Leslie's (R - Roseville) measure to close bath houses and sex clubs was also defeated by a vote of 4 - 3. The committee of nine requires five votes for a bill to pass. Eloquent testimony was given on behalf HIV/AIDS educators around the state who engage in safe sex education in bath houses, comprising the only education about HIV/AIDS transmission that many bath house clients receive. Also in the Senate Judiciary Committee, Senator Hayden (D - Brentwood) brought up SB 841, legislation that would require the state's contractors to offer domestic partner benefits identical to spousal benefits offered. Although this measure did not get enough votes to pass the committee (3 - 4), the bill was granted reconsideration and is likely to come up for a vote in 1998. "Today was a victory," said Ellen McCormick, Legislative Advocate for LIFE Lobby, "the radical right was so far out - they actually make the case for us." "The committee certainly understood the difference between fact and fiction," said Laurie McBride, Executive Director of LIFE, "gay and lesbian people need protection - protection from the same individuals that show up as our opponents. Faced with such open gay-bashing in a committee, it doesn't matter whether the issue is bath houses or marriage, the committee sees why we need protection." ### For more information about how you can become involved in the work done by LIFE: California's Lesbian/Gay and AIDS Lobby, please call (916) 444-0424. Vote Counts: SB 911, 2 - 2 SB 1301, 4 - 3 SB 841, 3 - 4 Burton (Chair) No No Yes Leslie (VC) Abstention Yes No Calderon Yes Abstention No Haynes No Yes No Lee Abstention No Yes Lockyer Abstention Abstention Yes O'Connell Yes Yes Abstention Sher Abstention No Abstention Wright Abstention Yes No 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