Action Alert! Call on the Governor to Respect LGBT Californians

EQUALITY CALIFORNIA

Action Alert! Call on the Governor to Respect LGBT Californians

Equality California eqca.org
(http://www.eqca.org/site/lookup.asp?c=9oINKWMCF&b=40337)

September 7, 2006

As part of our 12 Months of Equality series, this month's theme is respect.

Unfortunately, Governor Schwarzenegger did not show much respect yesterday for the
lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community when he vetoed the Bias-Free
Curriculum Act.

This bill, authored by Senator Sheila Kuehl (D- Santa Monica) and sponsored by
Equality California (EQCA) was a simple nondiscrimination measure to include LGBT
students in an already existing law that prohibits discrimination in textbooks and
school sponsored activities. The law already prohibits such discrimination based on
race, sex, disability, nationality, and religion. With a stroke of his pen, the
governor could easily have added sexual orientation and gender identity to that
list.

Defeating this bill was the highest priority of the extreme right - and clearly the
governor listened.

A record seven EQCA-sponsored bills are still on the governor's desk and his office
needs to hear that LGBT community merits more than a little R-E-S-P-E-C-T.

If you are a member of EQCA's Action Center, TAKE ACTION and reply to this email. A
letter (see below) will be sent automatically to the governor. If you are not yet a
member, you can register at http://www.eqca.org/takeaction.

Governor Schwarzenegger needs to hear loud and clear that California is a state that
respects everyone and should not leave anyone behind when it comes to stopping
discrimination.
This month, Alice Kessler, our legislative advocate, provides a status report
(http://www.eqca.org/site/lookup.asp?c=9oINKWMCF&b=2001079) on EQCA's bills. She
also shares some exciting stories about the legislative session in Sacramento.

Also, EQCA is proud to be participating in the Latino Congress September 6 - 10 in
Los Angeles. This event is the first comprehensive gathering of Latino leaders,
organizations and elected officials since 1977. Read More
(http://www.eqca.org/site/lookup.asp?c=9oINKWMCF&b=2056265)

Don't forget to (http://www.eqca.org/takeaction) and ask the governor to sign
EQCA's remaining seven bills!

Warmly,

Seth Kilbourn
Political Director

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Help Make History

Get Involved with EQCA. Our corps of volunteers is central to achieving equality
for all LGBT Californians.

Volunteers (http://www.eqca.org/site/pp.asp?c=9oINKWMCF&b=1862421) are supported by
EQCA staff to help with a wide variety of projects-from data entry to canvassing and
membership drives.

We make history - Volunteer (http://www.eqca.org/site/pp.asp?c=9oINKWMCF&b=1862421)


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Sample letter to the governor


(Month) (Day) (Year)

From: (Sender Name)(Sender Address)

RE: Please Support AB 606 (Levine). SB 1827 (Migden), AB 2800 (Laird), AB 2920
(Leno), AB 2051 (Cohn), AB 1160 (Lieber) and AB 2800 (Yee)

Dear Governor Schwarzenegger,

As a constituent who cares deeply about equality for all Californians, I urge you to
please support the following bills sponsored by Equality California:

Assembly Bill 606, the Safe Place to Learn Act, authored by Assemblymember Lloyd
Levine (D-Van Nuys) to strengthen California's school anti-discrimination and
anti-harassment laws.

Senate Bill 1827, the State Income Tax Equity Act of 2006, authored by Senator
Carole Migden (D-San Francisco) to give hard working families headed by registered
domestic partners a tax break by allowing them to file joint state income tax
returns, just like millions of other California families.

Assembly Bill 2800, the Civil Rights Housing Act of 2006, authored by Assemblymember
John Laird (D-Santa Cruz) to strengthen housing-related nondiscrimination provisions
in California law.

Assembly Bill 2920, the Older Californians Equality and Protection Act, authored by
Assemblymember Mark Leno (D-San Francisco) to support LGBT seniors and ensure that
the California Department of Aging takes into account their needs in its planning.

Assembly Bill 2051, the Equality in Prevention and Services for Domestic Abuse Act,
authored by Assemblymember Rebecca Cohn (D-Saratoga) to develop and support
education and services specific to domestic violence in the LGBT community.

Assembly Bill 1160, the Gwen Araujo Justice for Victims Act authored by
Assemblymember Sally Lieber (D-San Jose) to help city and county prosecutors address
anti-LGBT "panic strategies" as a defense strategy in violent crimes.

Assembly Bill 1207, the Code of Fair Campaign Practices, authored by Speaker pro Tem
Leland Yee (D-San Francisco) to help reduce appeals to anti-LGBT prejudice in
political campaigns.

California is a state that respects everyone and should not leave anyone behind when
it comes to stopping discrimination. Thank you for your consideration of these bills
that promote fairness and equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender
citizens and all Californians.

Sincerely,

(Sender's Name)


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Equality California eqca.org
(http://www.eqca.org/site/lookup.asp?c=9oINKWMCF&b=40337)

Contributions to Equality California support EQCA's political work and are not tax
deductible as charitable contributions under IRS-162(e).