SENATOR YEE CONTINUES 100% LIFETIME RECORD WITH EQUALITY CALIFORNIA by: Adam Keigwin, Office of Senator Leland Yee
SACRAMENTO – In 2008, Senator Leland Yee (D-San Francisco/San Mateo) continued his perfect lifetime legislative record on issues affecting gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) communities, earning a 100 percent on the latest scorecard issued by Equality California (EQCA) – the state's leading LGBT civil rights and advocacy organization.
The scorecard ranked legislators based on their votes on five key bills including new laws that add safeguards to non-discrimination statutes, protect seniors, and ensure foster care youth are free from harassment.
"I am very proud to have a 100 percent record with Equality California, our state's leading organization committed to equal rights for the LGBT community," said Yee. "While the results of Proposition 8 were extremely disappointing, the California Legislature fortunately continued to pass the strongest civil rights protections in the nation. There is obviously still much work to be done before we truly have a state and a nation that ensures equality and justice for all."
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger (R-Los Angeles) signed three of the five scorecard bills passed by the Legislature for a 60 percent rating.
Founded in 1998, Equality California has strategically moved California from a state with extremely limited legal protections for LGBT individuals to a state with the most comprehensive civil rights protections in the nation. This year, Equality California reached a milestone by passing the 50th piece of legislation sponsored by the organization.
One such piece of legislation was AB 1207 authored by Yee in 2006 to prohibit discrimination against LGBT candidates in political campaigns. Specifically, the law adds sexual orientation and gender identity to the Code of Fair Campaign Practices – a voluntary pledge that candidates may sign prior to entering a campaign.
NEW LGBT EQUALITY LAWS GO INTO EFFECT JANUARY 1, LGBT CAUCUS MEMBERS ASSUME LEADERSHIP POSITIONS EQCA-Sponsored Bills Become Law in New Year, Protecting Foster Youth and Seniors > Full Story. [12/30/08]
THE SAN DIEGO GLBT COMMUNITY IS STRIKING BACK! The San Diego GLBT community is striking back! NoOnProp8 was not enough to defeat Proposition 8, which is now enshrined in the California Constitution. An association of California businessmen organized Calling for Equality to provide A MEANINGFUL RESPONSE. - Professionally drafting an amicus brief in support of marriage equality - Outreach to minority communities that voted 80%+ YES on Prop 8 - Outreach to politicians and legislators on all levels - Outreach to other VIPs and people of importance, journalists and editors Calling for Equality staff and volunteers put the cause of marriage equality before everything else as they work in burnout mode for the next four months trying to ensure a just decision by the California Supreme Court this Spring. > Full Story. [12/29/08]
ATTORNEY GENERAL SAYS: PROP 8 IS INVALID Sacramento – Today Attorney General Jerry Brown filed his brief with the California Supreme Court arguing that Proposition 8 should be invalidated. > Full Story. [12/22/08]
ORGANIZATIONAL LEADERS GATHER FOR INAUGURAL CONFERENCE OF CALIFORNIA LGBT HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES NETWORK SACRAMENTO – On December 17, the LGBT Heath and Human Services Network, a sponsored program of the Equality California Institute, held its inaugural conference at the offices of the California Endowment. The Network is a statewide coalition of LGBT and allied organizations working to prioritize the health needs of the LGBT community in California and connect member organizations with statewide funding sources that have not necessarily been directed toward the LGBT community in the past. > Full Story. [12/18/08]
EQCA CONGRATULATES CTA PRESIDENT DAVID SANCHEZ ON BEING ELECTED TO CHAIR CALIFORNIA ELECTORAL COLLEGE Sacramento – Today the California electoral college chose an openly gay leader as chair. > Full Story. [12/17/08]
POWERFUL NEW ALLIES JOIN EQUALITY CALIFORNIA AND EQUALITY CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE BOARDS New board members include UFW Co-founder Dolores Huerta, Actress Wanda Sykes and former Assembly member Lloyd Levine; leaders represent important allies from labor, faith communities, entertainment industry and electoral politics > Full Story. [12/9/08]
CALIFORNIANS ELECT LEGISLATORS WHO SUPPORT MARRIAGE EQUALITY SACRAMENTO – When lawmakers start the new legislative session on Dec. 1, they will be joined by three new leaders who support the freedom to marry for same-sex couples. While two legislative races still remain too close to call, at least three new lawmakers who were endorsed by Equality California's PAC for supporting equal rights for all Californians will be sworn into office when lawmakers begin the 2009-10 session. > Full Story. [11/25/08]
EQCA CONDEMNS HIGH COURT RECALL THREATS BY SUPPORTERS OF PROP 8 Statement by Equality California Executive Director Geoff Kors > Full Story. [11/20/08]
PROTESTORS TRAGET MORMON CHURCHES ACROSS CALIFORNIA [VIDEO] Protestors traget Mormon Churches across California KTVX ABC 4 Salt Lake City Nov. 10, 2008. 12:27 AM EST
LOS ANGELES (AP) - On the first Sunday after a gay marriage ban passed in California, activists rallied in defiance, including hundreds of protesters outside an Orange County megachurch whose pastor brought Barack Obama and John McCain together last summer for a "faith forum." > Full Story. [11/11/08]
PROPOSITION 8 VOTE DISAPPOINTING, SHOWS GREAT 8-YEAR PROGRESS SAN FRANCISCO – NO on Prop 8 campaign leaders today expressed deep disappointment with the passage of Proposition 8, which takes away the right of same-sex couples to marry in California. Although final ballots still continue to be counted during the next 30 days, campaign leaders do not believe those votes will be enough to overcome the small deficit of no votes needed to prevent Prop 8 from passing. > Full Story. [11/7/08]
CALIFORNIA WILL CONTINUE TO HONOR MARRIAGES OF SAME-SEX COUPLES WHO MARRIED BEFORE THE POSSIBLE PASSAGE OF PROP 8 (SAN FRANCISCO) --- The California Attorney General, Equality California, and the nation's leading LGBT legal groups agree that the marriages of the estimated 18,000 same-sex couples who married between June 16, 2008 and the possible passage of Proposition 8 are still valid in the state of California and must continue to be honored by the state. > Full Story. [11/6/08]
LEGAL GROUPS FILE LAWSUIT CHALLENGING PROPOSITION 8, SHOULD IT PASS Legal Papers Claim Initiative Procedure Cannot Be Used To Undermine the Constitution's Core Commitment To Equality For Everyone > Full Story. [11/6/08]
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