Posted on 04/29/2005 2:07:53 PM PDT by Pikamax
California Assembly Passes Bill Discouraging 'Anti-Gay Rhetoric' (CNSNews.com) - The California Assembly has passed a bill intended to discourage candidates from using "anti-gay rhetoric" in their political campaigns.
The bill adds "sexual orientation" and "gender identity" to California's Code of Fair Campaign Practices -- an "anti-discrimination" pledge that is given to every candidate for public office.
Signing the pledge is voluntary, but failure to sign it could prove difficult for candidates who might risk being judged "unfair."
Critics call the bill an effort to muzzle any politician who refuses to support the homosexual agenda.
But homosexual activists say its an effort to stamp out prejudice: "This bill red flags candidates and campaign committees to think twice before using anti-gay rhetoric as a campaign tactic," said Geoffrey Kors, executive director of Equality California, the group that helped write the bill.
"We thank Assembly Speaker pro Tem Yee for promoting an equal playing field and helping to end the misinformation and anti-gay bigotry that taints our elections cycle and divides voters.
According to Equality California, "Incidents of violence against LGBT people have peaked in national elections years, such as in 2004 during the presidential campaign, in which lesbian and gay issues played an unprecedented role at both the national and local levels."
Kors said the bill should prompt candidates to be "thoughtful and culturally sensitive to the constituencies they hope to represent."
Assembly Speaker Pro Tem Leland Yee (D-San Francisco) said passage of AB 866 moves California "one step closer to ending anti-gay rhetoric in political campaigns.
"Candidates should not discriminate and victimize the LGBT community for political purposes, and fostering campaigns that create fear and intimidation only incite a potentially dangerous situation for the LGBT community," Yee said in a press release.
After passing the California State Assembly Monday on a 47-27 vote, AB 866 now heads to the State Senate.
This is one for a veto. Now they want to legislate free speech.
Okay - now I am REALLY MAD!!! Free speech is left only for a few, most notably sexual perverts. Way to go California - watching for the next tsumani!
this measure of course was introduced after 2pm when the legislators returned from their "lunch"...drunk again - Isn't it time to require drug and alcohol testing of the pols? Or is that just for the little people?
It's great to see the State Legislators are working so hard solving the really tough problems our state faces.... (not).
Assembly Speaker Pro Tem Leland Yee (D-San Francisco) said passage of AB 866 moves California "one step closer to ending anti-gay rhetoric in political campaigns.
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No way in hell will it end it. San Francisco Demon-rat, any suprise?. You cannot get any lower than that, on the California political totem-pole. The very bottom of the deepest liberal swamp.
I think this state has pretty well had it...
It's simply amazing to watch Mexico deconstruct into such a pile of Namblaesque nonsense.
He looks like he's been greeezzzzzed!
He's a disgusting little vaginophobic pustule.
Get out before its too late....
...guess my hubby should have taken that job in Colo.Springa a few years back....
I'm offended that I can't say it was a "gay" affair anymore...I have to say "happy" affair....dirty dogs
How about "homosexual PC Nazis"?
I take it "democrat party butt-boys" is definely out, with the new speech regulation law.
So what is "anti-gay"... I can't say I don't want gay males with AIDS in health insurance pool?
I would expect nothing less from the Left Coast.
No surprise from Califruita.
Its lovely here this time of year...been snowing all day..LOL
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