Calif. Assembly modifies law seeking to cure gays
(Sacramento) California lawmakers have voted to modify a decades-old law that classifies gays as sexual deviants and calls for research on the causes of homosexuality.
Supporters say a change was long overdue in the law, which was written in 1950 in reaction to a series of sex crimes, including the molestation and murder of a 6-year-old girl in Los Angeles.
The law classifies gays as sexual deviants and requires the state to conduct research to find the causes of sex crimes against children. It also singles out gays as a group that should be studied, and calls for research into a cure for homosexuality.
The bill, approved 62-0 Monday by the state Assembly, changes that law by removing all references to homosexuals in the provision that calls for research.
The measure now goes to the state Senate.
Calif. picks 1st openly gay Assembly speaker
(Sacramento, Calif.) The California Assembly has picked its first openly gay speaker.
Assembly Democrats on Thursday unanimously backed John Perez, the chairman of the Assembly Democratic Caucus, to be its next speaker.
Perez will hold one of the most powerful positions in state government. A cousin of Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, …
Field Poll: Brown has big lead in Calif gov’s race
(Sacramento) A new Field Poll shows California Attorney General Jerry Brown with a strong lead in next year’s race for governor, even before he’s declared himself a candidate and despite months of campaigning by his Democratic rival and three Republicans vying for their party’s nomination.
The poll released Thursday found that …
Calif. Senate advances Harvey Milk honor
(Sacramento) The California Senate has approved legislation designating a day each year to honor slain gay rights leader Harvey Milk.
The Democratic backed measure calls for Milk’s May 22 birthday to be used as a time to recognize the late San Francisco supervisor’s contributions. It would not be a formal holiday.
Milk …
Milk Day moves forward in Calif.
(Sacramento, California) A bill that would designate May 22 as Harvey Milk Day has been approved by a key committee in the California Senate. The measure now moves to the full Senate for a vote.
May 22 is Milk’s birth date. He would have been 80 this year.
It would then need …
Proposal to strike ‘marriage’ from Calif. law
(Sacramento, California) California’s top election official says supporters can start collecting signatures for a proposed ballot measure to strike the word “marriage” from all state laws.
Supporters of this ballot measure want to replace it with the term “domestic partnership,” while keeping all the rights of marriage in place.
The proposal is …
California bill targets LGBT domestic violence
(Sacramento, California) Legislation has been filed in the California Assembly to expand domestic violence services for members of the LGBT community.
The bill would broaden access for LGBT service providers to a state fund within the California Emergency Management Agency, which supports LGBT-specific …
Judge: Prop 8 donor names must be public
(Sacramento, California) A federal judge denied a request Thursday to keep secret the names of donors to California’s anti-gay marriage initiative, saying the public had a right to know who gave money to state ballot measures.
Supporters of the Proposition 8 initiative, which overturned a state Supreme Court ruling that allowed …
Gay foes want Prop 8 donors kept secret
(Sacramento, California) Supporters of the ballot measure that banned gay marriage in California have filed a lawsuit seeking to block their campaign finance records from public view, saying the reports have led to the harassment of donors.
“No one should have to worry about getting a death threat because of the …
Report: Whitman to run for Calif. governor
(Sacramento, California) Former eBay Inc. chief executive Meg Whitman plans to run for governor of California, according to a person with knowledge of her political aspirations.
The 52-year-old Republican plans to run in 2010 for the seat Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is leaving but is not ready to make a formal announcement, …
