Schwarzenegger States Opposition to Domestic Partner Law

[varun]

Date: 06 Oct 2003 20:12:44 -0000
From: "Human Rights Campaign" <[e-mail]>

HRC is forwarding this press release on behalf of Equality California.


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(October 6, 2003)

Contact EQCA: 415-581-0005


Schwarzenegger States Opposition to Domestic Partner Law as Governor Davis
Signs Groundbreaking Health Care Bill Covering LGBT Families

Schwarzenegger Opposition Comes as Republican Legislators Try to Repeal
LGBT Rights

SAN FRANCISCO - Arnold Schwarzenegger would not have signed Equality
California's Domestic Partner legislation that was recently signed into law
by Governor Davis, the San Francisco Chronicle reported yesterday. This
recent revelation lends encouragement to right-wing extremists who are
seeking to overturn the civil rights law both in court and at the ballot.
Schwarzenegger has not responded to repeated requests by Equality
California to publicly state his position on the proposed ballot referendum
that would prevent the law from being enacted.


"The recent civil rights gains of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender
Californians are under serious attack," warned Geoffrey Kors, EQCA
Executive Director. "We are facing two lawsuits and two ballot measures
that would take rights away from families and deny LGBT Californians hard
won civil rights protections. We need a governor who will stand beside the
LGBT community and take a leadership role in opposing these efforts and
supporting our struggle for full equality. Schwarzenegger is clearly not
that candidate."


In contrast to Schwarzenegger's opposition to a law protecting LGBT
families, Governor Gray Davis just signed a health insurance act that will
provide access to health care for a million uninsured California workers
and their spouses or domestic partners. As a result of lobbying by Equality
California, the new law will require large employers to provide domestic
partners of their employees with health insurance, making California the
first state in the nation to do so.


"Governor Davis' support of this bill has resulted in the enactment of what
is without question one of the most important pieces of legislation ever
passed for same-sex couples and their children," Kors explained. "Governor
Davis has signed more LGBT civil rights legislation than any other governor
in history, at least some of which Schwarzenegger states he would not have
signed."


Assemblyman Mark Leno, Vice Chair of California's LGBT Legislative Caucus,
has been pressing Schwarzenegger to state his position on legislation since
he entered the race. "Arnold has finally answered my question and
California now has the answer: If Schwarzenegger is elected Governor, the
civil rights of LGBT Californians will be at risk."


Equality California, the statewide lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender
civil rights advocacy organization, is urging its members and supporters to
protect civil rights by voting No on the recall, Yes on Bustamante, and No
on Proposition 54.


"In this election, the radical right is going after people of color through
Proposition 54," stated Toni Broaddus, EQCA Program Director. "Next
election, the right is going after lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender
people. As voters, we must say No to the constant barrage of attacks on
civil rights in California. And we must elect a governor who clearly
supports the civil rights of all Californians."


State Senator Pete Knight and Assemblymember Ray Haynes filed a ballot
referendum to overturn the new domestic partner law three days after it was
signed by Governor Davis in a jubilant ceremony in San Francisco. The
referendum has been cleared for signature gathering, and could come before
the voters as early as March 2004.


Equality California has formed a campaign committee, Equality for
California Families, to respond to this attack on California families who
already have less legal protections than other families. Over 70% of
California voters support legal rights for domestic partners.


Founded in 1998, Equality California (formerly CAPE) is a nonprofit,
nonpartisan, grassroots-based, statewide advocacy organization whose
mission is to ensure the dignity, safety, equality and civil rights of all
lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) Californians. Equality
California is one of the largest and fastest growing statewide LGBT
organizations in the country. We can be contacted through our website at
www.eqca.org.

[Democrats unite]

1. I don't know If I am going to make it through this day or not!!!

There is a lot more riding on this election than some people think.

[jamesinca]

2. Hang in there.

I am getting goose bumps, the polls open in 2 hours and 49 minutes. 15 hrs and 49 minutes and this will be over. I have a good feeling about this one.

[ReadTomPaine]

3. Don't expect a quick resolution.

If Davis or Bustamonte win (which I also expect to be the case) the GOP will fight this all the way up to the SCOTUS if they are able. As others have mentioned, the tension in CA is so thick right now you can cut it with a knife.

[barbaraann]

4. Oh, I agree.

If Davis wins there will be a court challenge and they will probably take it to the Supreme Court. Come to think of it, the Court might rule that the original ruling of the three judges on the Ninth Circuit was CORRECT and that the election should have been delayed because of Bush v Gore. Then the GOP will come up with another way to steal the next recall. Watch out, Tom McClintock!

[sendero]

9. no...

... the SCOTUS shot their wad in 2000. They have already shown that they have no interest in stepping into that pile of dung again.

They already refused to hear the delay issue. They simply cannot reverse that now.

[bowens43]

7. On what grounds do you think it

would go to the courts if Davis or Bustamonte win?

[barbaraann]

8. Voting machine problems

The media starting covering the fact that the touchscreen voting machines do not have a papertrail in a big way just yesterday.

Also there have been a lot of stories about how confusing the ballots are.

I've had my tv on constantly and I believe they are setting the stage to challenge the results if Davis wins the recall.

[demdave]

13. I thought those were our excuses if Arnold won the election.

I have been reading it here for months how easy it is to rig the machines and how the punch ballots are iffy. You mean that knife has another side? Hmmmmm. I guess it is one of those "be careful what you sow" moments.

[varun]

5. this news should be circulated among gay anf lesbian voters in California.

some log cabin types were happily promoting Shwarzenegger as a "Gay-Friendly" guy.

He is showing his true colors now.

[La_Serpiente]

6. We need to get this out

We need to get this out to the Gay and Lesbian community QUICK!!!

[The Zanti Regent]

10. Hmm Why is Andrew Sullivan silent?

Andy's blog says "VOTE ARNOLD" and is silent on this....

Hmmmmm Andy, what's your problem with the above release??????

[qb]

11. Schwarzenegger: "Jawohl Herr Rove!"

[Kitsune]

12. Let's define our actual positions on the day of the election!

That way, people have no fucking clue what they're voting for!
(well, I mean, besides about 50 sexual assault lawsuits)

God, I hope Californians are intelligent enough not to let a clod like that anywhere near anything more important than string.

[varun]

15. yes, exactly

his last moment pandering to the right is to get McClintock votes.

But this also shows his true colors...he will say anything to get the votes.

[Snellius]

14. "Social liberal"? And Bush is a "compassionate conservative"

Arnold's supposed "liberal" attitude with respect to cultural issues should not fool anyone. With all his libertine dirty laundry now out there, he'll be bending over backwards -- pun intended -- to prove what a upstanding family man he is.