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NEW HATE CRIMES BILL ADVANCES IN STATE ASSEMBLY
EQCA-sponsored bill would strengthen protections for victims of hate crimes
Sacramento – The Assembly Judiciary Committee today passed the Hate Crimes Protection Act (AB 1689) in a 6-3 vote. Introduced by Assemblymember Lori Saldaña (D-San Diego) and sponsored by Equality California, the bill would exempt hate crimes from mandatory arbitration clauses, often included in employment contracts, and would prohibit contracts from requiring an individual to waive his or her legal rights, guaranteed under the Ralph Civil Rights Act, which provides protections for hate crime victims.
"Victims of hate crimes should never be forced into arbitration simply because they signed an employment or residential contract with fine print that waives their right to seek justice in our courts," said Geoff Kors, executive director of Equality California.
Although California state and civil laws protect people from hate-related crimes, private contracts often require individuals to relinquish their fundamental rights and protections.
"Many employment contracts have a mandatory arbitration clause, which allows perpetuators of hate crimes to arbitrate and not go to court," said Assemblymember Saldaña. "This bill would make hate crimes an exemption if you sign one of these contracts. Hate crimes negatively impact communities and an individual's psyche which is why they must be brought to justice and not stipulated outside of court as required by a legal loophole."
Nationally, hate crimes against LGBT individuals increased in 2007 the FBI reported. In Los Angeles County, there were 134 hate crimes based on sexual orientation reported in 2008, up from 111 in 2007, and these incidents were more likely to be violent than hate crimes motivated by race or religion, according to the annual Hate Crimes Report by the Los Angeles County Commission on Human Relations.
The California Penal Code defines a hate crime as "a criminal act committed because of an actual or perceived characteristics of the victim including disability, gender, nationality, race or ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, and association with a person or group with one or more of these actual or perceived characteristics."
Equality California (EQCA) is the largest statewide lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender-rights advocacy organization in California. Over the past decade, Equality California has strategically moved California from a state with extremely limited legal protections for LGBT individuals to a state with some of the most comprehensive civil rights protections in the nation. Equality California has passed over 60 pieces of legislation and continues to advance equality through legislative advocacy, electoral work, public education and community empowerment. www.eqca.org
Full Story. [3/17/10]
LOS ANGELES BLACK PRIDE HOSTS THE LARGEST BLACK GAY PRIDE EVENT IN AMERICA
While Martha's Vineyard attracts some of the country's most elite African-Americans every summer to what iscommonly known as "The Inkwell," so too does the upscale beach community of Malibu. This beautiful beach enclave is expected to swell to almost 20,000 as African-Americans from all over the country populate this pristine California beach on Saturday, July 3rd, 2010 from 10am to 5pm for what is known as "At The Beach." > Full Story. [3/2/10]
CALIFORNIA'S FIRST GAY ASSEMBLY SPEAKER SWORN IN
California's first openly gay Assembly speaker was sworn in on Monday, the San Francisco Chronicle reported.
After taking the oath, Assemblyman John Perez, a Los Angeles Democrat, paid tribute to the gay and lesbian Californian politicians that came before him, saying his achievements would not be possible if not for "people like Elaine Noble, Harvey Milk and Sheila James Kuehl, who blazed a trail of pride and purpose for gay and lesbian Californians to serve our state."
> Full Story. [3/2/10]
PROP 8 TRIAL CLOSING ARGUMENTS WON'T BE TELEVISED
The court issued a press release intended to correct any misconceptions about a recent report in the San Francisco Chronicle that there was a possibility the closing arguments for Proposition 8 could be televised: > Full Story. [3/2/10]
EQUALITY CALIFORNIA SPONSORS BILL ELIMINATING BARRIERS TO DISSOLVE MARRIAGES, DOMESTIC PARTNERSHIPS FOR SAME-SEX COUPLES
Equality California is sponsoring a new bill introduced last Friday by Assemblymember Fiona Ma (D-San Francisco) that would create a consolidated form and procedure to dissolve both a civil marriage and domestic partnership. > Full Story. [2/25/10]
MANIFEST EQUALITY LAUNCH
MANIFESTEQUALITY(www.manifestequality.com)is now set to launch in its pop up space in the center of Hollywood on Wednesday, March 3 - Sunday, March 7, 2010. The MANIFESTEQUALITY Gallery issues a call-to-action, with artists motivating public energy toward true reform on a local, state and national level. Artists, grass roots activists, performers, celebrity guests, art collectors, musicians, public officials and the general public will display their works and show support at the MANIFESTEQUALITYGallery in Hollywood, CA. just blocks from the Kodak Theater where the Academy Awards will be held. Participating artists include: Barry McGee, Harvey Pekar, Karen Kimmel, Robbie Conal, Ron English, Tierney Gearon, Shepard Fairey, Clare Rojas, Swoon and hundreds more.
The MANIFESTEQUALITY gallery has gathered international and local artists in a call to present artthatunites art, activism and the message of universal equal rights into a memorable multi-media 'moment'. Through Suffrage, the Equal Rights Amendment, the Prop 8 shockwaves, the legal battle for equal rights has been fought at different times, on differing fronts, for varied communities. In response to the growing resistance to equal rights for the LGBT population, the creative community is gathering, during Oscar Week to bring inspiration through the creation of original artworks, performances and special installations that raise visibility for the grass roots efforts to ensure full Equal Rights to LGBT Americans. Upper Playground (www.upperplayground.com) will be working with the artists and offering sales services to assist in the fundraising for this cause. The MANIFESTEQUALITY gallery interior has been designed by artist Jed Lind in collaboration with local LA Design team COMMUNE (www.communedesign.com ) headed by Roman Alonso and Steven Johanknecht with a generous contribution by the ReUse People.
Aaron Rose and his arts organization Make Something School (www.makesomethingworkshops.com) will host students on Saturday March 6, 2010 who are between the ages of 16 - 21. Aaron dreamed up a nationwide series of art workshops for teens. His intention was simple: to introduce a new generation of creative minds to the concept of DIY.
MANIFESTEQUALITY Schedule of Events include:
March 2, Tuesday 7pm - 10pm Invitation Only: VIP and Media Preview
Courage Campaign Presents: Legendary activist and organizer, Cleve Jones
Cleve conceived of the NAMES Project AIDS Memorial Quilt which at 54 tons, has become the world's largest piece of community folk art. Jones is portrayed by actor Emile Hirsch in MILK, director Gus Van Sant's 2008 film about the life of Harvey Milk. More recently Cleve recognized the need for a national stage in the equality debate and together with activists from around the country he spear-headed the National Equality March this past November. He is an adviser to and works closely with the Courage Campaign.
Musical Performance by Emily Wells - is a violinist whose style merges hip-hop and classicals. She also uses many other instruments in her work, including glockenspiels, analog synthesizers, and even toy pianos and other toy instruments.
DJ Diabetic (aka Shepard Fairey)
March 3, Wednesday 10am - 6pm Gallery Open to the Public
8pm - 1am Opening Night Party:
Musical Guest: Uh Huh Her, Fitz & the Tantrums, and more
DJ Set by Tim Biskup, Chris Holmes, and Booby Trap
March 4, Thursday 10am - 6pm Gallery open to the public
March 5, Friday 11am - 10pm Gallery open to the public
March 6, Saturday 10am - 6pm Gallery open to the public
11am - 5pm Make Something School with Aaron Rose
8pm - 1am Closing Night Party
Musical Guests: Isaac Brock from Modest Mouse, Sam Sparrow,
DJ Set by Crystal Method and Kelly Cole
March 7, Sunday 10am - 5pm Gallery open to the public
Additonally throughout the week you catch DJ sets with: Daisy O'Dell, Adam 12 and Justin Warfield from She Wants Revenge, Boom Bip, Mia Moretti, Justin Allen, DJ AC, Dan Mancini, Rare Matthew, and more.
MANIFESTEQUALITY's
Presenting sponsors include Courage Campaign, Human Rights Campaign, MoveOn, Planet Illogica and Logo TV.
With additional support from UpperPlayground, Blik Wall Graphics, Commune, No Favorite and Juxtapoz Art and Culture Magazine.
Community partners include WhiteKnot, FAIR, EqualRoots, Renwl, Californaia Faith for Equality, Equality California, Black Lesbians Unite, Honor PAC, Homotracker, OutWest, Progressive Jewish Alliance, Latino Equality Alliance, and Generation For Change.
Produced by the team behind the remarkably successful MANIFESTHOPE exhibitions/campaigns at the Democratic National Convention '08 and the Presidential Inauguration '09; including Taskforce, Apple Via & Co.; and Evolutionary Media Group.
MANIFESTEQUALITY will serve as a touchstone event - a convergence of altruistic intention, artistic expression, community engagement and political momentum. > Full Story. [2/24/10]
EQUALITY CALIFORNIA SPONSORS FIRST BILL IN NATION TO INCLUDE GENDER IDENTITY, SEXUAL ORIENTATION IN STATE GOVERNMENT FORMS
Introduced by Assemblymember Ted Lieu, the bill would enable the state to gather vital data about the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community > Full Story. [2/18/10]
THERAPY ORGANIZATIONS CHALLENGING PROP 8 AGREE QUALITY OF PARENTING IS WHAT MATTERS NOT GENDER
A group of leading organizations for marriage and family therapists and other mental health professionals from across the nation have filed an amicus brief challenging Proposition 8 in the Perry v. Schwarzenegger case in U.S. District Court in San Francisco. The therapy associations agree that what matters is the quality of the parenting, not the gender of the parents. > Full Story. [2/10/10]
COURAGE CAMPAIGN'S RICK JACOBS FILES FPPC COMPLAINT AGAINST ANDY PUGNO, ASSEMBLY CANDIDATE AND COUNSEL FOR PROTECT MARRIAGE
Alleges misuse of public funds in support of ballot initiative banning same-sex marriage > Full Story. [1/29/10]
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