State

/

Equality California Celebrates 100 Pieces of LGBT Rights Legislation with Passage of the “Panic Defense” Bill

Equality California, the largest statewide lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender advocacy organization in California, celebrated its 100th piece of passed legislation today when the California Assembly — by a preliminary bipartisan vote of 58-14 — approved AB 2501, which would prohibit the use of the “panic defense” to support a finding of sudden quarrel or heat of passion, which is necessary to reduce a charge of murder to manslaughter. This bill, the first of its kind in the nation, now moves on to Governor Jerry Brown’s desk.

For more than a decade, EQCA has partnered with legislators to successfully sponsor more legislation improving the lives of LGBT people than any other statewide LGBT organization, strategically moving California from a state with extremely limited legal protections for LGBT people to a state with some of the most comprehensive human rights protections in the nation.

“This milestone is not significant for quantity alone but for the real, life-changing impact of these laws,” said Rick Zbur, executive director-elect of EQCA. “Because of the work of Equality California in the legislature, California students will learn about the role and contributions of LGBT people in history; people around the world know about the story and example of Harvey Milk; and LGBT youth won’t be subjected to the psychological abuse that is conversion therapy.”

“LGBT seniors who have lost a partner will be secure in their homes and not vulnerable to unfair tax increases; California employers must provide health insurance for same-sex spouses and domestic partners; and transgender people need not fear that they won’t be able to secure a job or a place to live simply because of their gender identity,” he added.

For its milestone 100th piece of legislation, EQCA partnered with Assemblymember Susan Bonilla to end the “panic defense,” a disturbing legal tactic that has been used in various cases in California and nationwide, whereby criminal defendants claim that they have been the object of romantic advances by a person of the same sex or a transgender person that they found so offensive and frightening as to induce a violent reaction against the victim.

“This defense legitimizes prejudice and hate, and it should play absolutely no part in California’s justice system,” said Zbur. “This bill helps eliminate anti-LGBT bias as a ‘reasonable’ basis to ease the punishment for violent crimes against LGBT people.”

“There is absolutely no justification for the use of ‘panic defenses.’ Clearly this tactic has been utilized by defendants, unjustly targeting members of the LGBT community, based on damaging stereotypes,” said Assemblywoman Susan A. Bonilla. “With AB 2501, we are moving forward to ensure equality in our courts and making it very clear that discrimination against the LGBT community is intolerable and unacceptable.”

There is a complete lack of scientific research to support the “panic defense,” and the American Bar Association last year adopted a resolution urging “federal, tribal, state, local and territorial governments to take legislative action to curtail the availability and effectiveness of the ‘gay panic’ and ‘trans panic’ defenses.”

“This panic defense bill and the other 99 pieces of legislation before it have brought us a long way in improving the lives of LGBT people in California,” said Zbur. “As we look ahead, Equality California is evolving to meet the needs of California’s LGBT community. We will utilize Equality California’s enormous mobilization and communications capacity to educate the public and to fight discrimination wherever it exists. And we will use our public policy and legislative expertise to advocate for programs at all levels of government that address the needs of the LGBT community and combat historic and existing discrimination. This is the work ahead of us.”

Equality California (EQCA) is the largest statewide lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender advocacy organization in California. For more than a decade, Equality California has strategically moved California from a state with extremely limited legal protections for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people to a state with some of the most comprehensive human rights protections in the nation. Equality California has partnered with legislators to successfully sponsor 100 pieces of pro-equality legislation. EQCA continues to advance equality through legislative advocacy, electoral work, public education and community empowerment.www.eqca.org

/

Governor Brown Signs Bill Enshrining the Freedom to Marry in State Statutes

On July 7, Gov. Jerry Brown signed Senate Bill 1306, authored by Sen. Mark Leno and co-sponsored by Attorney General Kamala D. Harris, Equality California and the National Center for Lesbian Rights. The bill will bring California statutory law into line with the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2013 decision restoring the freedom to marry in California.

While both the California and U.S. Supreme Courts have affirmed the right for same-sex couples to marry, current state laws in many cases do not reflect that change. SB 1306 ensures that references to “husband” and “wife” will be replaced with gender-neutral language such as “spouse” to recognize all married couples throughout the California code.

“I am pleased Governor Brown has recognized the importance of this bill, which makes it explicitly clear in state law that every loving couple has the right to marry in California,” said Sen. Leno. “This legislation removes outdated and biased language from state codes and recognizes all married spouses equally, regardless of their gender.”

“While we have achieved many milestones in the journey towards full equality for LGBT people — including the freedom to marry for same-sex couples — it’s important that we completely erase discrimination from the books,” said Rick Zbur, executive director-elect of EQCA. “This new law will take us one step further in that journey. We applaud Senator Leno for authoring this important legislation and Gov. Brown for signing it.”

“We are grateful for Sen. Leno’s legislation that will ensure the fair and equal treatment of all married couples in California,” said National Center for Lesbian Rights Executive Director Kate Kendell. “Although there is no question that same-sex couples can marry in California, the discriminatory language that remains on the statutory books creates confusion about the rights of same-sex couples. This law makes it clear to everyone that same-sex couples can marry and that all spouses have the exact same rights and responsibilities under the law, regardless of gender.”

SB 1306 officially becomes law on January 1, 2015.

Equality California (EQCA) is the largest statewide lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender advocacy organization in California. For more than a decade, Equality California has strategically moved California from a state with extremely limited legal protections for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people to a state with some of the most comprehensive human rights protections in the nation. Equality California has partnered with legislators to successfully sponsor 96 pieces of pro-equality legislation. EQCA continues to advance equality through legislative advocacy, electoral work, public education and community empowerment. www.eqca.org

/

HRC Statement on the Death of Frank M. Robinson, Speechwriter to Harvey Milk

In response to news of the death of Frank M. Robinson, science fiction writer, LGBT activist and speechwriter to San Francisco City Supervisor Harvey Milk, Human Rights Campaign (HRC) president Chad Griffin issued the following statement.

“Through his collaboration with Harvey Milk, Frank Robinson gave the LGBT movement its rhetorical backbone–and brought hope to countless LGBT Americans, especially young people, for the very first time. I was lucky to meet Frank on my very first week on the job as HRC president, and though we all mourn his passing today, we’re overwhelmed with gratitude for his contributions to this fight for equality.”

Milk’s speeches, famously immortalized and dramatized in the 2008 Gus Van Sant film Milk, but also recorded in the celebrated 1984 documentary The Times of Harvey Milk, were the first by an openly gay elected official to lay out the moral and political case for equality.

Dustin Lance Black, who grew close to Robinson while writing the screenplay for Milk, joined HRC in remembrance:
“For Frank, the word ‘hope’ was not a notion for our dreams, it was a bold call for immediate action in a time when it was illegal to be gay in every corner of this nation. He offered Harvey his strength, wit and wisdom. He shared the same with me, still grimacing at the idea of partial equality and patience. He felt strongly that what he called a ‘checkerboard nation’ of contradictory laws still denied LGBT young people the hope and pride he so desperately wanted for them. So each time we spoke, he’d end with, ‘Fight on.’”

When Milk’s life was cut short by an assassin’s bullet in 1978, Robinson continued a distinguished career as a writer and author. Three of Robinson’s novels were made into films or television series during his lifetime.

The Human Rights Campaign is America’s largest civil rights organization working to achieve lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equality. By inspiring and engaging all Americans, HRC strives to end discrimination against LGBT citizens and realize a nation that achieves fundamental fairness and equality for all.

/

Equality California Celebrates Statewide Victories for 57 EQCA Endorsed Candidates in Primary

Equality California congratulates the EQCA-endorsed winners in Tuesday’s statewide primary election. Of the 61 candidates endorsed by EQCA, 57 are guaranteed to advance to November’s general election. In addition, two EQCA-endorsed candidates appear to be likely to advance to the general election, but the races are still too close to call. Overall, as many as 59 of EQCA’s 61 endorsed candidates are likely to progress to the general election.

“This is exciting news for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and ally communities throughout the entire state of California,” said Rick Zbur, executive director-elect of EQCA. “California voters have shown that they expect their representatives to share their beliefs in full equality for all people. But our work is cut out for us through November, because many of our pro-equality candidates will be in close races and we need to make sure that we send them to Sacramento.”

All five proudly out legislative candidates moved forward: Speaker of the Assembly Toni Atkins (AD 78), San Francisco Supervisor David Campos (AD 17), Assemblymember Susan Talamantes Eggman (AD 13), Assemblymember Rich Gordon (AD 24), Campbell City Councilmember Evan Low (AD 28). If all of the out candidates win in the general election, the LGBT Caucus will maintain its current size of eight members.

Two races with EQCA-endorsed candidates remain too close to call — state controller and Senate District 28. In the state controller race, Assembly Speaker Emeritus John A. Pérez is poised to make history. If elected, he will be the first out LGBT person to win a statewide constitutional office in California. In SD 28, Glenn A. Miller is the first Republican ever endorsed by EQCA. In both races, these EQCA candidates placed in the top two and are likely to advance to the general election, but the races are tight, and final results will not be known until additional absentee and provisional ballots are counted.

For a full list of primary results for EQCA-endorsed candidates, please see: eqcapac.org/2014primary.

Equality California (EQCA) is the largest statewide lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender advocacy organization in California. For more than a decade, Equality California has strategically moved California from a state with extremely limited legal protections for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people to a state with some of the most comprehensive human rights protections in the nation. Equality California has partnered with legislators to successfully sponsor 96 pieces of pro-equality legislation. EQCA continues to advance equality through legislative advocacy, electoral work, public education and community empowerment. www.eqca.org

 

Equality California Announces Final Endorsements for 2014 June Primary

Today, Equality California is proud to announce its endorsement of incumbents Gov. Jerry Brown for governor, Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom for lieutenant governor, Attorney General Kamala Harris for attorney general, Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones for insurance commissioner and Superintendent Tom Torlakson for superintendent of public instruction. In addition, EQCA has endorsed former Speaker of the Assembly Bob Hertzberg for Senate District 18. They join a group of over 50 other candidates already endorsed by Equality California in the 2014 election cycle.

In his current term, Brown has governed California since 2011 and he has been a tremendously effective advocate for full equality throughout his long career. In 2012 he signed into law SB 1172, banning psychological abuse of minors in the guise of “conversion therapy,” and last year he signed the School Success and Opportunity Act, which gives all students, including transgender students, equal access to programs and facilities. Prior to serving as governor, Brown served as attorney general and declined to defend Proposition 8 both as attorney general and later as governor. Brown was recently honored with the Leadership Award at EQCA’s 2014 Sacramento Equality Awards.

“We are tremendously pleased to endorse Governor Brown for a fourth term as governor,” said John O’Connor, EQCA executive director. “His leadership has been critical to much of the progress we have made toward full equality in recent years, and we look forward to achieving even more with another four years of Governor Brown’s leadership.”

Newsom garnered national renown while mayor of San Francisco for his bold decision to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples in 2004. Since then, he has has used his leadership position to support policies that move equality forward for LGBT Californians, including universal health care, and citizen engagement, like his CaliforniaReportCard.org, which invites residents to grade California’s implementation of marriage for same-sex couples. Newsom was honored at the 2014 Sacramento Equality Awards with the Vanguard Award.

“Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom has built on his promise as an exceptional ally to LGBT Californians,” said O’Connor. “He has continually pushed the frontier of equality forward, and we are proud to endorse him for a second term as lieutenant governor.”

Harris has served as Attorney General since 2011, and has been a staunch advocate for full equality, including refusing to defend Prop. 8. While district attorney for San Francisco, she created a hate crimes unit, and convened a national conference to rebut the “gay-“ and “transgender panic” defense. This year, she is an official co-sponsor of Assemblymember Susan Bonilla’s AB 2501, which would curb the use of “gay-“ and “transgender panic” defenses in California. Last year, she was honored with the Vanguard in Leadership Award at the 2013 Los Angeles Equality Awards.

“Kamala Harris has had so many firsts — she’s the first woman, African American and Indian American to hold the office of Attorney General — and now it’s time for her to have a second term,” said O’Connor. “We couldn’t be prouder to endorse Kamala Harris for attorney general.”

Jones has served as Insurance Commissioner since 2010, and previously served as assemblymember for the 9th District. In 2011, prior to the restoration of the freedom to marry, Jones reformed insurance regulations so that low-income lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people were no longer excluded from discounts based on spousal language. He also championed groundbreaking regulations to enforce laws requiring gender nondiscrimination in insurance coverage, ensuring that transgender Californians are not denied access to health care simply because of their gender identity.

“Dave Jones has made compassion and equality a priority for insurance coverage in California,” said O’Connor. “We are proud to endorse him for another term.”

After serving in both the Assembly and the Senate, Torlakson has worked as superintendent for public instruction since 2011, and has overseen the implementation of the FAIR Education Act, which ended the exclusion of LGBT historical figures due to their sexual orientation or gender identity. Torlakson is a strong supporter of effective anti-bullying programs, and is currently implementing the School Success and Opportunity Act.

“As a former legislator, Tom Torlakson proved himself to be a staunch ally with his consistent 100-percent pro-equality voting record,” said O’Connor. “EQCA looks forward to working with our ally on implementing the FAIR Education Act and the School Success and Opportunity Act on behalf of LGBT students, who are our shared priority.”

Hertzberg is currently a partner at the law firm Mayer Brown LLP, and is a respected voice on environmental policy and government reform. From 1996 through 2002, he represented the 40th Assembly District, and served his final two years in the Assembly as Speaker. While there, he helped to secure passage of AB 537, the California Student Safety & Violence Prevention Act of 2000 by then-Assembly Member Sheila Kuehl, which provided crucial anti-harassment protections for LGBT students.

“Bob Hertzberg has been a longtime supporter of full equality for LGBT Californians, and we’re glad that he’s decided to return to public service,” said O’Connor. “We’re proud to endorse him for California Senate.”

The Equality California Political Action Committee endorses viable candidates running for statewide offices and the state legislature who have a proven track record of supporting equal rights and legal protections for LGBT Californians and who are committed to advancing these goals in their capacity as elected officials.

Equality California (EQCA) is the largest statewide lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender advocacy organization in California. For more than a decade, Equality California has strategically moved California from a state with extremely limited legal protections for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people to a state with some of the most comprehensive human rights protections in the nation. Equality California has partnered with legislators to successfully sponsor 96 pieces of pro-equality legislation. EQCA continues to advance equality through legislative advocacy, electoral work, public education and community empowerment. www.eqca.org

 

Equality California Applauds CalPERS Divestment from Russian Companies Tied to Anti-LGBT Violence and Neo-Nazi Website

Equality California applauds CalPERS, the country’s largest public pension fund, for divesting from the Russian companies MegaFon and Mail.ru due to the companies’ links to the neo-Nazi “Occupy Pedophilia” vigilante group, which has posted videos of torture and assault of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Russians on a company-owned social media network.

“Californians raised their voices and CalPERS listened. We will not have our money supporting hate crimes against our LGBT brothers and sisters in Russia, and we are very glad to have made an impact on a global scale,” said John O’Connor, Equality California executive director. “This is a success that we can all be very proud of.”

In March, EQCA launched a petition in conjunction with the National Center for Lesbian Rights, urging the specific divestment from MegaFon and Mail.ru. Last year, EQCA co-sponsored Sen. Mark Leno’s resolution, SR 18, urging CalPERS to divest from Russian companies to oppose the anti-LGBT ‘propaganda’ law.

Equality California (EQCA) is the largest statewide lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender advocacy organization in California. For more than a decade, Equality California has strategically moved California from a state with extremely limited legal protections for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people to a state with some of the most comprehensive human rights protections in the nation. Equality California has partnered with legislators to successfully sponsor 96 pieces of pro-equality legislation. EQCA continues to advance equality through legislative advocacy, electoral work, public education and community empowerment. www.eqca.org

 

Attorney General Kamala D. Harris Signs on as Co-sponsor for Bill to Curb “Panic Defense”

Attorney General Kamala D. Harris has become an official co-sponsor for AB 2501, a bill authored by Assemblymember Susan Bonilla and designed to curb the so-called “panic defense” by making it clear that a defendant’s discovery of a victim’s sexual orientation or gender identity is not sufficient provocation to reduce a charge of murder to manslaughter. Equality California is a sponsor of the bill.

“Getting Attorney General Kamala Harris to co-sponsor AB 2501 is an exciting sign that California is serious about curbing these bogus ‘panic’ defenses,” said John O’Connor, Equality California executive director. ”A victim’s sexual orientation or gender identity should never be used to excuse a crime against them, and we thank Assemblymember Bonilla and Attorney General Harris for their leadership on this issue.”

“As the state’s chief law enforcement officer and a career prosecutor, I’ve long viewed the panic defense as an injustice not only to our LGBT community, but to all Californians who rightly expect all victims to be treated equally under the law,” Attorney General Harris said. “This bill ensures that violent crimes cannot be excused by a defendant’s prejudice. I commend Assemblymember Bonilla for standing up on this serious issue.”

“With the strong support of Attorney General Kamala Harris to ban panic defenses in court, we are making it very clear that discrimination against people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender has no place in our justice system,” said Assemblymember Bonilla.

Currently, “heat of passion” and “sudden quarrel” defenses must be legally supported with evidence of provocation, and that provocation may include discovery of a victim’s sexual orientation or gender identity. Similar legislation was attempted in 2005 in the California Legislature but was substantially amended to only require the court to instruct the jury that their verdict should not be influenced by bias against a victim.

There have been several high-profile cases over the past ten years where panic defenses were used, including the murders of LGBT teens Gwen Araujo in Newark, California and Larry King in Oxnard, California.

Equality California (EQCA) is the largest statewide lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender advocacy organization in California. For more than a decade, Equality California has strategically moved California from a state with extremely limited legal protections for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people to a state with some of the most comprehensive human rights protections in the nation. Equality California has partnered with legislators to successfully sponsor 96 pieces of pro-equality legislation. EQCA continues to advance equality through legislative advocacy, electoral work, public education and community empowerment. www.eqca.org

 

/

LGBTQ Youth Rally in Sacramento for Opportunity to Stay in School

 

More than 50 high school students from across California are in Sacramento April 29 to advocate for three bills that would help ensure all youth, including lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender youth, have the opportunity to be themselves at school, do well and graduate. The youth are gathered for the 9th annual Queer Youth Advocacy Day, which unites LGBT and straight ally youth activists from Gay-Straight Alliance clubs across state.

“Our goal is the same as our peers’: we wish to graduate high school and be successful, but bullying and unreasonable school discipline policies stand in the way of our every chance,” said Pat Cordova-Goff, a Gay-Straight Alliance Network youth leader who partly credits the School Success and Opportunity Act, a law passed after last year’s Queer Youth Advocacy Day, with her ability to be herself and do well in school this year. “There is no excuse to deny LGBTQ students or any youth the same opportunities to learn as their peers, and we are asking legislators to take a stand in support of all California youth.”

Students will rally at the State Capitol on the lawn area near L Street, between 12th and 13th Streets (also called Area 22 on some State Capitol maps) at 10:45 a.m. where they will be joined by a number of Senators and Assemblymembers. Planned speakers include: Senators Ricardo Lara (D-Bell Gardens) and Mark Leno (D-San Francisco) and Assembly Speaker John Pérez (D-Los Angeles).

Following the rally, students will visit their representatives’ offices to advocate for three bills that would help students stay in school: Reducing the Use of Costly and Harsh Discipline (AB 420), Ensure School Safety (SB 840), and Fair and Successful School Transfers (SB 1111). More than 75 visits have been scheduled to take place.

SB 840, authored by Senator Ricardo Lara, improves the handling of bullying and bias-based harassment. The bill was prompted by a report released by the State Auditor last August, “School Safety and Nondiscrimination Laws,” which found that school bullying prevention efforts are falling short. Senator Lara also authored SB 1111, which helps ensure that students being temporarily placed in county community schools have a successful transfer to and from those schools. Assemblymember Dickinson’s AB 420 would limit the use of suspension and expulsion for “willful defiance,” a category used in 40% of California suspensions that can mean anything from a lesbian student holding her girlfriend’s hand to a gender nonconforming student breaking the school’s dress code.

Involuntary transfers, inadequate school responses to bias-based bullying, and the overuse and discriminatory application of suspensions are all barriers to young people working hard to stay in school and graduate. Together, hostile school environments and extreme disciplinary policies push LGBTQ youth and youth of color out of school, denying them the opportunity to learn and succeed.

“Queer Youth Advocacy Day not only empowers young LGBT people to demand full and lasting equality, it helps give them to the tools to achieve it,” said John O’Connor, Equality California executive director. “We see Queer Youth Advocacy Day as a vital part of EQCA Institute’s educational mission, and we’re thrilled to work with the next generation of advocates for LGBT equality.”

Queer Youth Advocacy Day is organized and sponsored by Gay-Straight Alliance Network, Transgender Law Center, Equality California, and the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of California.

WEBSITE: www.gsanetwork.org/events/queer-youth-advocacy-day

Equality California (EQCA) is the largest statewide lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender advocacy organization in California. For more than a decade, Equality California has strategically moved California from a state with extremely limited legal protections for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people to a state with some of the most comprehensive human rights protections in the nation. Equality California has partnered with legislators to successfully sponsor 96 pieces of pro-equality legislation. EQCA continues to advance equality through legislative advocacy, electoral work, public education and community empowerment. www.eqca.org

Gay-Straight Alliance Network (GSA Network) is a national youth leadership organization that empowers youth activists to fight homophobia and transphobia in schools by training student leaders and supporting student-led Gay-Straight Alliance clubs throughout the country. In California alone, GSA Network has brought GSA clubs to 61% of public high schools, impacting more than 1.2 million students at 940 schools. GSA Network’s youth advocates have played a key role in changing laws and policies that impact youth at the local and state level. GSA Network operates the National Association of GSA Networks, which unites 39 statewide networks of GSA clubs throughout the country. www.gsanetwork.org

Transgender Law Center works to change law, policy, and attitudes so that all people can live safely, authentically, and free from discrimination regardless of their gender identity or expression. www.transgenderlawcenter.org

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of California is part of the nationwide, nonpartisan organization with more than 550,000 members across the country dedicated to the defense and promotion of the guarantees of individual liberty secured by state and federal Constitutions and civil rights statutes. www.ACLU.org

Equality CA Welcomes New Executive Director

Equality California, the largest statewide lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender advocacy organization in California, announced today that its executive director, John O’Connor, will step down in July following a successful, 18-month tenure leading EQCA through a period of extensive organizational transition. EQCA also announced that board member Rick Zbur, a senior partner with the law firm of Latham & Watkins and an LGBT and environmental advocate, has been unanimously elected as the organization’s new executive director.

“John has been an incredibly effective leader and the boards of directors of both Equality California and Equality California Institute are extremely grateful for his exceptional service to the LGBT community in our state,” said Andreas Meyer and Joyce Rowland, board presidents of EQCA and EQCA Institute respectively. “John has successfully guided EQCA through a period of significant transition, leading this important organization to greater stability and improved financial condition.”

During his tenure, O’Connor’s major accomplishments include developing new funding sources, reorganizing EQCA staff and consolidating the organization’s presence across the state, leading numerous legislative victories, elevating the visibility and funding of the EQCA Candidate PAC, partnering with board members in robust new board recruitment efforts statewide, and initiating new programming that did more to directly enroll uninsured LGBT people under the Affordable Care Act rollout than any other LGBT organization nationwide.

“I’m very proud and grateful to have had the opportunity to lead Equality California through this critical period in its history,” said O’Connor. “Having accomplished the key objectives I was brought on to address at EQCA, the organization is well positioned to move into its next chapter. Rick Zbur is a dynamic leader who will continue our work and advance EQCA’s mission of securing full and lasting equality for LGBT Californians.”

“It was a difficult decision to leave EQCA at this time to handle personal affairs,” O’Connor continued, “but I’m thrilled to be handing off the organization to such a capable leader.”

Zbur will succeed O’Connor as executive director later this summer. A graduate of Yale University and Harvard Law School, Zbur will retire from Latham & Watkins, one of the largest law firms in the world, and begin leading EQCA full-time on September 1.

“The boards are very pleased to welcome Rick, a respected and accomplished leader in the community, to the helm of EQCA,” said Meyer and Rowland. “Rick’s extensive experience working in advocacy and with nonprofit boards, coupled with his passion, intelligence and commitment to the work of achieving full equality for LGBT people, make him an excellent fit for the job. His appointment also ensures a smooth and effective transition for the organization.”

A father of three, Zbur grew up in a farming community in the Rio Grande Valley south of Albuquerque, New Mexico, where his mother, Erlinda Chavez Zbur and her family have lived for generations. A lifelong LGBT trailblazer, Zbur was Latham & Watkins’ first openly gay attorney and first openly gay partner. He took a leave of absence from the firm in January 1996 to run for Congress in California’s 38th Congressional District, where he became the first openly gay, non-incumbent to win a contested primary for U.S. Congress.

Zbur has served and will continue to serve as president and chair of the board of the California League of Conservation Voters, the political action arm of California’s environment community. He formerly served on the board of Lambda Legal and was a founding director and vice president at the Children Affected by AIDS Foundation.

“I’m thrilled to join Equality California and will build on the excellent foundation that John O’Connor created,” said Zbur. “My focus will be on the organization’s core mission of achieving full and lasting equality for LGBT people through smart and effective legislation, education and outreach, and building and expanding our community’s political power. A key to EQCA’s success will be to continue to strengthen our partnerships and alliances within and as a part of California’s emerging electorate.”

Top ranking elected officials reacted enthusiastically to the news of Zbur’s election.

“Since his historic run for Congress, Rick has been a tremendous advocate for the LGBT community, and a thoughtful and talented leader who knows how to build the coalitions that are crucial to advancing our movement,” said Assembly Speaker John A. Pérez. “We have made a great deal of progress, but we clearly have more work to do to ensure that every LGBT person in California is treated with dignity and respect, and I am absolutely confident that Rick will be an exemplary leader for EQCA who can focus on moving our movement forward. I also want to thank John O’Connor for his effective and dedicated service as executive director of EQCA. He has done a remarkable job in leading one of California’s preeminent LGBT rights organizations, and I am thankful for his service.”

“Rick is an LGBT trailblazer and true advocate for full equality,” said Speaker-Elect Toni Atkins. “I’m looking forward to working with EQCA under his leadership to continue advancing equality for LGBT Californians.”

“Rick is well known and respected among state and local leaders as a result of his leadership of one of California’s premier environmental organizations,” said Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom. “And he has the vision to ensure that EQCA continues to lead California to a state of full equality for LGBT people.”

EQCA also announced that Laurie Hasencamp has been appointed as interim chief operations officer to enable O’Connor to focus on key transition-related priorities. In 2012, Hasencamp served for 10 months as EQCA’s interim executive director and currently serves as board treasurer. She is a member of the Founder’s Council of The Williams Institute at UCLA School of Law and a former member of the Board of Directors of Lambda Legal.

Equality California (EQCA) is the largest statewide lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender advocacy organization in California. For more than a decade, Equality California has strategically moved California from a state with extremely limited legal protections for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people to a state with some of the most comprehensive human rights protections in the nation. Equality California has partnered with legislators to successfully sponsor 96 pieces of pro-equality legislation. EQCA continues to advance equality through legislative advocacy, electoral work, public education and community empowerment. www.eqca.org

Bill to Modernize Birth Certificates Introduced

Assemblymember Jimmy Gomez introduced AB 1951, sponsored by Equality California, to modernize birth certificates to accurately reflect the gender of a child’s parent or parents. The new birth certificates would allow each parent to identify as mother, father or parent.

“Birth certificates establish real rights and responsibilities, and it’s important to have them in sync with modern families,” said John O’Connor, executive director of Equality California. “Every child deserves a parent or parents who love them, and AB 1951 will give every child the dignity of respectfully and accurately representing them.”

“The definition of a family needs to be more flexible, and same-sex parents should not be discriminated against when filling out a birth certificate,” said Assemblymember Gomez. “Under AB 1951, same-sex parents will be able to accurately identify each parent as mother, father or parent.”

The current practice in completing a birth certificate limits the choices to birth mother and father, or to leave the father blank. Unfortunately, this practice forces same-sex parents to inaccurately place one partner’s name in the “father” or “mother” field.

AB 1951 would require the Department of Public Health to modify birth certificates to contain a line for the name of the parent of the child with boxes to choose “mother,” “father” or “parent,” allowing same-sex parents to accurately identify their relation to the child.

According to the 2010 Census, there are more than 15,000 same-sex couples with children in California, a number that is expected to grow dramatically after a Supreme Court decision returned the freedom to marry to California.

By being listed on a birth certificate, parentage is officially recognized by the state, and entails the duty to support and care for their children. It also allows parents to make decisions about their child’s education, healthcare, religion, recreation and etc.

Equality California (EQCA) is the largest statewide lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender advocacy organization in California. Over the past decade, Equality California has strategically moved California from a state with extremely limited legal protections for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people to a state with some of the most comprehensive human rights protections in the nation. Equality California has partnered with legislators to successfully sponsor 96 pieces of pro-equality legislation. EQCA continues to advance equality through legislative advocacy, electoral work, public education and community empowerment. www.eqca.org

 

«‹ 51 52 53 54 55