Calif. Senate OKs transgender protections (Companies MUST hire transgenders)

Yahoo ^ | July 25, 2003 | Ellen Maremont Silver

[nwrep]

Calif. Senate OKs transgender protections

Fri Jul 25, 8:11 PM ET

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Ellen Maremont Silver, Gay.com / PlanetOut.com Network

SUMMARY: The California Senate passed a groundbreaking bill on Thursday that makes it illegal to discriminate against transgender people in housing and employment.

The California Senate passed a groundbreaking bill on Thursday that makes it illegal to discriminate against transgender people in housing and employment. AB 196 adds "gender identity or expression" to sex and other characteristics that are already protected by the state's Fair Employment and Housing Act.

The bill, passed by the Assembly in April by a 41-34 vote, now goes to Gov. Gray Davis (news - web sites), who is expected to make a decision in approximately two weeks. The Senate vote was 23-11 along strict party lines: All in favor were Democrats, all opposed were Republicans.

Assemblyman Mark Leno, D-San Francisco, authored the bill. Equality California, the state's GLBT advocacy organization, worked closely with the five-member legislative GLBT caucus to achieve passage of the bill.

Sen. Sheila Kuehl, D-Santa Monica, one of the bill's co-authors and a caucus member, called AB 196 "a simple matter of civil rights. California law already protects against hate crimes based on gender stereotyping, and protects students and teachers from discrimination or harassment on this basis. ... We should not tolerate such arbitrary discrimination that can lead to the problems of unemployment and homelessness among those who are perceived as different."

The San Francisco Department of Public Health (news - web sites) reported 70 percent unemployment among transgender people in 1999, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.

AB 196 allows employees to dress consistent with their gender identity as long as they meet reasonable workplace appearance standards. It is endorsed by more than 50 business, religious and civil rights organizations, from the California Labor Federation to the California Apartment Association. As expected, conservatives have criticized the measure.

If Davis signs the bill into law, California will join Minnesota, New Mexico and Rhode Island in explicitly prohibiting gender identity-based discrimination. Connecticut, Hawaii, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York and the District of Columbia have statutes that have been interpreted to protect transgender people in certain circumstances. No federal law protects GLBT individuals in the workplace, but activists and organizations including the Human Rights Campaign are developing one.

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[Justin714]

We're having all kinds of problems in California and this is what they've been working on.
The DimoCrap is the decay to our society. This is why Davis is being recalled. I hope the people of California will wake up and vote the Dims out of office.

[Khurkris]

"If this were put to a vote in California 75% of the population woule vote against it. It's the sick f--- democrats who are pushing deviancy forward."

I'd put it closer to 85%...and you are spot on re:'sick f****** democrats...'

But hey...it gives the California bashers something to grind their teeth about.

[M Kehoe]

The Kalifornia government is so progressive, that some day soon, they will progess right into bankruptcy.

5.56mm

[M Kehoe]

progess=progress

I need more coffee.

5.56mm

[Sharpshot613]

I guess some people are mad cause we don't have winter...as if the socialist-fascists don't hold the other 75% of the population hostage with questionable elections and commie judges. We passed 187 and 209, remember? Prop 13 too, for that matter...

[ScrtAccess]

I didn't read anything in that article that forces anyone to hire transgendered people (except the headline). Looks to me like it simply protects people from losing their home or job because of it, and allows them to present themselves as they believe they are.

Judging from some of the posts in this thread seems the protections may be justified.

[Lijahsbubbe]

I'm going to say this now, while I still can, and it's not yet 'hate speech' punishable by law.

I don't want IT working next to me. I don't want IT in the restroom with me, and I certainly don't want IT living anywhere near my children.

Now, if you find it acceptable, you can have them at your job and have them all move in your neighborhood. Then everyone will be happy.

[Caipirabob]

So now you HAVE TO HIRE ME! And if you're not NICE to me, I'll come back and chop all of you up into little, teensey-weensey pieces, so let's all get along, OK? Don't mess with me, I used to bench-press 380...

[OPS4]

At this rate, I forsee the earthquake coming when the next seal is opened, as in the Revelation!

Ops4 God BLess America!

[Bommer]

Its time for all businesses to get together and threaten to leave the state within 90 days unless every liberal resigns immediately. They are either going to friendly to the freaks or to industry, and I bet theres not enough freaks performing enough tricks to make up for the $38 billion they are in the hole.

[First Amendment]

We should not tolerate such arbitrary discrimination that can lead to the problems of unemployment and homelessness among those who are perceived as different."

It ain't arbitrary, it's using the fine God-given discriminatory powers we humans have to see the difference between the natural order and crazed circus freaks who want to destroy such natural law.

[NautiNurse]

What is the impact on the he said/she said argument?

the s/he-it has hit the fan.

[MightyMouseToSaveThe Day]

anyone wonder why CA is in the mess that is? Instead of dealing with real budget problems, the CA Senators are wrestling with 'ground breaking' legislation on transgender issues. sheesh. Recall the whole lot of them, i say!

[Husker24]

So if you opened a strip club, you would have to hire one of these people if they applied?

[Im Your Huckleberry]

G-Damn right they have. This is an outrage. Enough is enough.

I can't take any more. I can't stand this sh!t.

[EGPWS]

Its time for all businesses to get together and threaten to leave the state within 90 days unless every liberal resigns immediately. They are either going to friendly to the freaks or to industry, and I bet theres not enough freaks performing enough tricks to make up for the $38 billion they are in the hole.

If that were an option that became popular, the next law you see passed in California would be something on the order of 25 to 30 years for attempting to leave the state. Of course it would be a law based on discrimination!

[B Knotts]

Recall the entire legislature.

[EGPWS]

So if you opened a strip club, you would have to hire one of these people if they applied?

If that were the case, the house drink may as well be "Pigs Eye" beer for it would help to stave off losses due to the decline in patrons.

[ridesthemiles]

I remember when older mentors tried 20 years ago to get me to expand my self-employment and hire others "so I could make more money". I said then it was too hard to find knowledgeable persons who were dependable and responsible.
I also said more money just was bragging rights- I would pay too much more in taxes. Wonder what angel on my shoulder I owe for keeping me out of this kind of mess? Thank you--Thank you--Thank you whoever and wherever you are.

[ridesthemiles]

Us "regular folks" are considered the money funders for all these goofy programs. There are more kinds of perverts in this state in or with ties to the Legislature than we can ever imagine.